The decision by Congressman Tim Griffin to not seek reelection for his congressional seat in Arkansas’ 2nd District has spurred a flurry of rumors and leaks to the press about who will vie to replace him.
It’s all very interesting. Here is a young politician in his 40s and at the top of his game with the political world in his hands. He holds a seat on the powerful Ways and Means Committee. He’s a Deputy Whip. His professional resume is unmatched by most of his sitting colleagues. Yet he decides to put his political ambitions aside to focus on his family-and he really means it!
There is no scandal. There is no serious threat to his re-election. He truly understands that young children need the presence of both parents in their lives, and he should be commended. Instead of following the much-trodden path of broken and dysfunctional families of elected officials who have to travel back and forth between Washington, D.C., and their home states, he decides to savor the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of being a loyal husband and present father. He can always return to public life, but his children will only be children once.
Maybe Griffin “re-learned” a lesson that we often learn more than once in life. Winning really is not everything, and no position in life can take the place of personal happiness. I have often lamented that, especially in more traditional states like Arkansas, voters will make voting decisions based on whether someone is married with children.
As a former Capitol Hill staff member, I have personally witnessed the intense strain on a family that occurs when one of the parents is so frequently out of the home. That family photo might look beautiful and sweet on campaign material, but more often than not, those children and that spouse are taking a hit due to having to share their high-profile parent or spouse with seemingly the entire United States electorate, and there is often strife. Very few elected officials pull this off well.
What does this have to do with my campaign debt? Everything.
What all of these potential 2nd District candidates need to understand is how time-consuming, draining and financially straining it is to run for and serve in federal office. I have consulted for numerous candidates, and often the hardest message to convey to them is how important it is to raise funds. If you have no money, you really have no message because you cannot effectively disseminate the message you want to convey to the voters who need to hear it.
I ran for Congress at the tender age of 26. While I truly believe I would have been a great member of Congress and will very likely run for office again one day, my biggest regret to this very day is not having raised enough money. Running for office not only takes a physical and mental toll on the candidate, but it also affects the candidate’s wallet.
My personal and professional Rolodex seems endless, and I know several people who are financially capable of contributing the maximum amount to a campaign, but I needed more time to execute a proper fundraising plan. It takes more than “knowing people.” I am still in thousands of dollars of campaign debt to myself and even to some former staff members.
Do not be alarmed. Many campaigns nationwide are in this same predicament. On top of which, it is not the type of debt that shows up on a personal credit report. It belongs to the campaign, but I am still the responsible party for making sure that I get the debt repaid.
I do not regret running for office.I received powerful endorsements, met amazing people, and learned more about my home state than I ever thought I knew, but I do regret that my campaign still owes money. I do regret that I’ve had to put some personal ambitions on hold because of it.
I have made great professional strides since losing my congressional bid. I am young, and I will be fine, but I took a very serious financial hit that I’m still paying for, and it affected the remaining campaign staff who invested in the campaign as well.
Here is some sage advice to all of these people who think they can pop into a congressional race based on a minimal record as a locally elected official or co-sponsor on some minor piece of legislation in Little Rock: Do not run for federal office unless you can raise the funds.
It is sad, but it is true. That is the state of the current American political environment. You do not want to be in the position I am in where I am having to use personal money to repay campaign debt in small increments at a time. It is a very hard sell to invite people to campaign fundraisers for a failed congressional bid in a primary. General election loss? Maybe. Primary election loss? No.
Until the age of 14, I was an active Girl Scout, and our national motto is “Be Prepared.” If you cannot raise money for a federal campaign, then you will not be prepared, and you will put strain on your personal finances, your family time, and even your mental health.
Learn from my mistakes, and understand that, like Tim Griffin has shown us, the Washington, D.C., lawn is not greener on the other side. It’s not even green.
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Princella D. Smith has worked for numerous Arkansan politicians, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and as a communications director on Capitol Hill. She is a graduate student at the Lauder School of Government in Herzliya, Israel.
Editorial, Pages 17 on 10/25/2013