Feel-good update: Our 2017 candidates are our 2018 elected officials

The only goal of this #content is to make you smile.

Life can seem pretty bleak these days. But we promise, the world isn’t all bad! Good things are happening because of your efforts. At the top of each week, we’ll post an update for our top volunteers and supporters — that’s you!! — with the only goal being “make you feel good.” Send feedback our way if you’ve got it: hello@runforsomething.net.

Happy 2018!! Long-ish update today with lots of things to make you feel good, hopeful, and optimistic about this exciting election year.

Our 2017 candidates are now our 2018 elected officials…

Heather Ward was sworn in last month and sent us a note about her time on school board:

I wanted to check in with a quick update about a month after being sworn in. Being on the school board is amazing and I love every minute of it. We have a lot of interesting and challenging decisions happening in the next few months. We just negotiated a superintendent contract, have to balance a deficit for our 2018–19 budget, and very soon I’ll be voting on a plan to redistrict three elementary schools, while looking at delayed start times and a huge enrollment growth. It’s all so fascinating!

I sit on our finance committee, the legislative committee, and starting in March I’ll be the chair (!) of the public information committee.

Running for office was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and there’s nothing like actually getting to vote on issues.

I’m still amazed every day that I get to do this and I owe so much to you, so thought I’d give you an update.

In Monessan, PA, Matt Shorraw, 26, is officially their youngest mayor ever. Ashley Bennett, who ran because her Republican incumbent posted something sexist on Facebook, officially took his job when she was sworn in. Balvir Singh was sworn in to his new job in New Jersey. Wendy Carrillo took her seat in the CA state assembly.

Kevindaryan Lujan took the oath of office in Orange County, NY. Daniel Pritchard was sworn in as trustee of the Waterford Public Library. Lydia Edwards began her tenure as a Boston city councilwoman. Peter Spadafore and Brian Jackson are off to work in Lansing, MI. Megan Kilgore is the new Columbus auditor.

In Colorado, Dylan Roberts has been in the legislature for a few months now and is introducing legislation to increase transparency around insulin costs.

In Kansas, Angela Becker, new school board member, is reaffirming the commitment we all need to make to “forever red” states. Angela also wrote up a blog post for us — as did Monica Taylor and Kelsey Waits — each one of them will inspire you.

Watching & helping folks go from citizen to candidate to elected official is truly the best feeling in the world. Congrats on what you’re helping make happen.

Some other reading material…

- Vox makes it clear: Republicans control Washington. Progressives are trying to reclaim the rest of America.

- Democrats are contesting all but 17 congressional districts. While we don’t do federal races, we’re excited to see our efforts encouraging people to run making a difference at every level.

- People are fired up in Texas, where at least 35 LGBTQ candidates are filed and folks are running in districts that haven’t seen a Democrat on the ballot in decades.

- In Florida, columnist Ron Cunningham is encouraging young people to run for office locally and make a difference in their community.

- Highly encourage you to read Robert Kuttner’s overview of the Democratic Party as it currently stands in The American Prospect — it’s as clear-eyed a view as I’ve seen yet.

Twitter is usually a ~bad place~ but this response is one of many reasons why I’m so glad and proud that our presence there is as vibrant and as engaging as it is (thanks to the work of Elaine Kelch!)

Beating the drum over and over (and over!) again makes a difference.

Finally: We’re hiring! We’re looking to fill three positions: Development Director, Events & Special Projects Manager, and Community Manager. Spread the word far and wide.

We’re so excited about how 2018 has begun — and even more excited about what’s to come. Thanks for doing what you do.