“Be the change you want to see in the world.” I know that quote from Mahatma Gandhi is somewhat cliché but I feel that it is a great way to describe my approach to politics.
My name is Josiah Dean and I decided to run for office at the last minute just before the November 2016 election, and I won! I am a newly elected city council member for the city of Dufur, Oregon.
How did I do it? Well, I live in a small town and I basically just showed up. It is interesting to note that since my landslide win of 12 votes, I have come to realize that many positions in local government are filled by the people who just show up. You may live in a city where city council races might be a major campaign but there are many positions that are unopposed.
If you are interested in running for office in the May 16th Special Election, a good place to start is to visit the Pacific Green Party's Run For Office page, then check in with your local County Elections office right away. They can tell you exactly which election districts you are in and which offices are open. But don't delay, the deadline for filing for office is March 16th!
Even if you are not up for running for office this election, you can still help out by becoming a Supporting Member or by volunteering to help those Green candidates running in the upcoming special election. Something to keep in mind is that your Supporting Member donation may cost you nothing (visit Oregon Political Tax Credit for full details).
I look forward to leading my little community in the direction that I want to see. I am working with several conservative folks but by demonstrating what cooperation and good governance is, we can create positive solutions. As a business person with progressive Green Party values, my intention is to make the changes that I can. And so can you!
Josiah Dean
Dufur City Council Member