Running for public office
Published Mar 13, 2022 12:05 am
THE VIEW FROM RIZAL
Dr. Jun Ynares
A good number of young people will be running for elective posts at the local level in the May 9, 2022 elections.
Come March 25, these young candidates will be courting the votes, many of them doing this for the first time. Most, if not all, of them will be excited to hit the campaign trail. We know this for a fact. After all, we were just 34 years of age when we threw our hat into the political arena.
It has been a decade and a half since we first held a local government executive position. To this day, we sometimes find ourselves asking the question, why did we ever go into politics?
Those who run for public office, of whatever age, have different motives and motivations.
We do not know of any systematic study or research done in the Philippines to find out what these motives and motivations are. No problem. If a study were to be done, we suspect that that research outfit may not be able to get the right answers from respondents who have won and lost elections. We expect that they will give the same answer – “to serve our country.”
However, a United States-based research outfit conducted a study after the 2018 midterm election in that country. The company is called “Avalanche.” It claims to work with “some of the biggest players in progressive politics.” With another organization called “Run for Something Fund,” Avalanche came up with research findings which answer the question, “how did candidates decide to run?”.
According to the study, there are four types of candidates based on their motivation to run.
First, the “self-actualizer.”
Second, the “community lover.”
Third, the “reactionary fighter.”
Fourth, the “rabble-rousing-change-maker.”
The “self-actualizers” are those who feel they are destined to lead. The study says they love it that people and media know their name and recognize them, and that other candidates endorse them.
The “community lovers” are into politics for the sake of their local community and the people in it. They are fueled by one-on-one conversations. They like it when their vision for their community is validated and when they feel that they have been given the mandate and blessing to fulfill that mission.
The “reactionary fighters” are the candidates who feel that there is something that needs to be fought for and that they need to rise to the occasion. They are fueled by the feeling of having “crushed” their political rivals in debates.
The “rabble-rousing-change-makers” are those who fight to bring reforms to their own parties. They love shaking up the status quo and bringing fresh new perspectives inspired by youth and diversity.
We tend to agree with the classification done by this study. We wish a similar study could be done in our country.
At present, we can only guess which type of candidate a political aspirant would fall under.
Our “guess” is validated by what we observe and hear from the candidate, as well as what others observe and say about them.
We have decided to return to the forefront of public service and have placed our name in the ballot in the May 2022 elections. We have been asked by the incumbent mayor of the City of Antipolo to ask the people of that city for a mandate to lead them as their chief local executive for the next three years. We said “yes.”
We do not know which type of candidate in the research study’s classification we might fall under.
One thing we know: there is a job that needs to be done and which needs someone willing enough to do it. That is our motive and motivation.
Public service is not an easy task. It requires one to have a strong reason to make the necessary sacrifices needed to get the job done. “Someone has to do it” seems to be a good reason, at least for the moment.
The next set of elective government officials, both at the national and local levels, have a big task ahead of them. There are many things that will have to be rebuilt in the aftermath of the devastating pandemic: the economy, infrastructure, lives and dreams.
The task of rebuilding needs leadership at various levels. We need those who are willing and able to take on the leadership role and job.
We are glad that many young people have heard the call and are now rising to the occasion.
For feedback, please email it to [email protected] or send it to Block 6 Lot 10 Sta. Barbara 1 cor. Bradley St., Mission Hills Subd., Brgy. San Roque, Antipolo City, Rizal.
Dr. Jun Ynares
A good number of young people will be running for elective posts at the local level in the May 9, 2022 elections.
Come March 25, these young candidates will be courting the votes, many of them doing this for the first time. Most, if not all, of them will be excited to hit the campaign trail. We know this for a fact. After all, we were just 34 years of age when we threw our hat into the political arena.
It has been a decade and a half since we first held a local government executive position. To this day, we sometimes find ourselves asking the question, why did we ever go into politics?
Those who run for public office, of whatever age, have different motives and motivations.
We do not know of any systematic study or research done in the Philippines to find out what these motives and motivations are. No problem. If a study were to be done, we suspect that that research outfit may not be able to get the right answers from respondents who have won and lost elections. We expect that they will give the same answer – “to serve our country.”
However, a United States-based research outfit conducted a study after the 2018 midterm election in that country. The company is called “Avalanche.” It claims to work with “some of the biggest players in progressive politics.” With another organization called “Run for Something Fund,” Avalanche came up with research findings which answer the question, “how did candidates decide to run?”.
According to the study, there are four types of candidates based on their motivation to run.
First, the “self-actualizer.”
Second, the “community lover.”
Third, the “reactionary fighter.”
Fourth, the “rabble-rousing-change-maker.”
The “self-actualizers” are those who feel they are destined to lead. The study says they love it that people and media know their name and recognize them, and that other candidates endorse them.
The “community lovers” are into politics for the sake of their local community and the people in it. They are fueled by one-on-one conversations. They like it when their vision for their community is validated and when they feel that they have been given the mandate and blessing to fulfill that mission.
The “reactionary fighters” are the candidates who feel that there is something that needs to be fought for and that they need to rise to the occasion. They are fueled by the feeling of having “crushed” their political rivals in debates.
The “rabble-rousing-change-makers” are those who fight to bring reforms to their own parties. They love shaking up the status quo and bringing fresh new perspectives inspired by youth and diversity.
We tend to agree with the classification done by this study. We wish a similar study could be done in our country.
At present, we can only guess which type of candidate a political aspirant would fall under.
Our “guess” is validated by what we observe and hear from the candidate, as well as what others observe and say about them.
We have decided to return to the forefront of public service and have placed our name in the ballot in the May 2022 elections. We have been asked by the incumbent mayor of the City of Antipolo to ask the people of that city for a mandate to lead them as their chief local executive for the next three years. We said “yes.”
We do not know which type of candidate in the research study’s classification we might fall under.
One thing we know: there is a job that needs to be done and which needs someone willing enough to do it. That is our motive and motivation.
Public service is not an easy task. It requires one to have a strong reason to make the necessary sacrifices needed to get the job done. “Someone has to do it” seems to be a good reason, at least for the moment.
The next set of elective government officials, both at the national and local levels, have a big task ahead of them. There are many things that will have to be rebuilt in the aftermath of the devastating pandemic: the economy, infrastructure, lives and dreams.
The task of rebuilding needs leadership at various levels. We need those who are willing and able to take on the leadership role and job.
We are glad that many young people have heard the call and are now rising to the occasion.
For feedback, please email it to [email protected] or send it to Block 6 Lot 10 Sta. Barbara 1 cor. Bradley St., Mission Hills Subd., Brgy. San Roque, Antipolo City, Rizal.