This coming week, I am speaking at a couple of sessions about running for public office. It gets me to thinking about my own path to the British Columbia legislature.
I grew up on Tsartlip First Nation. Our family property on Stelly’s is right across the street from the municipality of Central Saanich. While I’m a Central Saanich kid, there is an important distinction. I live on the reserve. It’s alway been my home and we still live there. I went to school in Central Saanich, I played baseball in Central Saanich, but my politics were reserve politics. It’s a completely different world living under the Indian Act.
Walk before you run
In the fall of 2007, both my sister Joni and I were nominated for Tsartlip council elections. Emily was in her third trimester with Silas and he was due on the day of the election. So my first wise political decision was to withdraw my name from the ballot. I didn’t think I should start a family and political career on the same day. Joni’s first election in early December marks the beginning of the political careers of the Olsen kids. 12 years later, we are still going.
In early 2008, Central Saanich Councillor Zeb King asked me if I had ever thought about running for municipal councillor. While politics was fresh in my family, Central Saanich Council wasn’t on my radar. Going back to the top, it’s a completely different world. Growing up under the Indian Act is nothing like growing up under the Local Government Act.
On my side of the street, we can possess land, not own it. Relationships about land are messy and it’s the source of much of the internal strife on Indian reserves across Canada. So when I stepped across the road to run in the 2008 Central Saanich municipal elections, I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
Going for it
It took about six months of talking with Zeb before Emily and I made the decision we would go for it. Emily was planning on going back to her job at Canada Post once her maternity leave was done. My plan was to work from home with Silas and Council was going to be part of that work.
November 2008, one year after Joni’s election, marks the beginning of my public service. I remember then-Mayor Jack Mar saying to me on inauguration night that I would not know what I was doing for the first 18 months of my initial three-year term. “Come on Jack!” I said. “I’m a quick study!” After all, I had just got the second-highest number of votes on the councillor ballot! I could overcome anything!
Little did I know, and through the ensuing weeks I found out how little I knew. Official community plans, zoning bylaws, multi-million dollar budgets, tax rolls, mill rates – none of this is part of Indian Act living! However, as it turns out I was a pretty quick study. The ability to understand new information in a wide variety of areas, and quickly recall it whenever it is needed, is an critical skill in my job!
Why?
One of the most common questions for a person in public office is, “Why did you run for public office?” The most common response is, “Because someone asked me to.”
I may have started in politics because someone asked me to put my name on that ballot. However, I run for public office because good public policy is important to me. I like the work and it suits my personality. I enjoy the tempo and pace. Meeting people for coffee and talking about community excites me. Building networks by connecting people is my strength. This work matters and the quality of life now, and in the future, depends on this work being done well.
So when I am asking people if they will consider running for public office, I want them to think past my ask. I want to know why they are doing it. What do they want to accomplish? Are they going to go-along to get-along? Or, will they press the issue, ask the tough questions, seek information, and knock on any door?
Your daily blogs are so inspiring and they are getting better all the time!
Thank you Ann!