Politics, My Dad, and Saying No

Jan 072009

My father, who was appointed a Rock County circuit court judge last January, just found out that he’s going to have an easy time with his first actual campaign for the elected seat: He’s running unopposed.

This is the kind of election that families of candidates root for. Very low stress.

I actually considered running for the school board here in Beloit this year. A number of people asked me to, and I do hope to someday be able to serve my hometown in some direct fashion. However, the kids are still just a bit too young and the demands on my time too stringent for me to be more than a warm body in any such position—and that just wouldn’t do.

I’m not always good at saying no to things that interest me. I sometimes overbook my time that way, but most of my projects only run for stints of a few months. A seat on the school board comes with a three-year term, and I don’t think I could sustain a super-crunch time for that long without serious repercussions.

Still, it would have been cool to run for a seat at the same time as my father. The yard signs alone would have been worth it.

http://arctosmedia.com/ Clifford VanMeter

Speaking of guys from the Ludosphere turning to politics. I spent the summer doing websites for political campaigns here in Michigan. Now, I’m looking into running for a seat on the county commission in 2010. Never saw that coming.

Cliff VanMeter
http://arctosmedia.com Clifford VanMeter

Speaking of guys from the Ludosphere turning to politics. I spent the summer doing websites for political campaigns here in Michigan. Now, I’m looking into running for a seat on the county commission in 2010. Never saw that coming.

Cliff VanMeter
http://www.forbeck.com/ Matt Forbeck

Very cool, Cliff. Good luck!

There are others who have taken this path from gamer to politician. My pal John Nephew of Atlas Games, for instance, ran last year for the city council of Maplewood, MN, and won. He gave me an Al Franken campaign button at Gen Con this year too.
http://www.forbeck.com Matt Forbeck

Very cool, Cliff. Good luck!

There are others who have taken this path from gamer to politician. My pal John Nephew of Atlas Games, for instance, ran last year for the city council of Maplewood, MN, and won. He gave me an Al Franken campaign button at Gen Con this year too.
Sean Everette

While I haven’t made any definite plans yet, I am very seriously considering some kind of political future. It would have to be post-military, and Tracy and I would have to decide on exactly where we wanted to put down fairly permanent roots, but I don’t think Congressman or Senator Sean Everette is too much of a far-fetched idea.
Sean Everette

While I haven’t made any definite plans yet, I am very seriously considering some kind of political future. It would have to be post-military, and Tracy and I would have to decide on exactly where we wanted to put down fairly permanent roots, but I don’t think Congressman or Senator Sean Everette is too much of a far-fetched idea.
http://www.forbeck.com/ Matt Forbeck

You’d have my vote. Ah, assuming you live anywhere near me at the time.
http://www.forbeck.com Matt Forbeck

You’d have my vote. Ah, assuming you live anywhere near me at the time.
Paul Jenkins

I tired to run for US Congress back in 2004. Got killed, but squeaked out 8.5% as an independent, and the experience was certainly an interesting one.

Good luck if you decide to run in the future, sounds like you’d make a good politician!
Paul Jenkins

I tired to run for US Congress back in 2004. Got killed, but squeaked out 8.5% as an independent, and the experience was certainly an interesting one.

Good luck if you decide to run in the future, sounds like you’d make a good politician!
http://www.forbeck.com/ Matt Forbeck

I remember your campaign, and I was impressed that you ran at all, Paul. Just entering the race is a big step, and getting that much of the vote as an independent is a huge achievement.
http://www.forbeck.com Matt Forbeck

I remember your campaign, and I was impressed that you ran at all, Paul. Just entering the race is a big step, and getting that much of the vote as an independent is a huge achievement.
http://www.delazan.com/ Lori Ann Curley

I can see the yard signs: “I’m for Forbeck and Forbeck!”
-L.
http://www.delazan.com Lori Ann Curley

I can see the yard signs: “I’m for Forbeck and Forbeck!”
-L.