State School Boards: Winning the Election and Achieving Your Goals

For political novices, planning an election campaign can be a difficult but potentially very rewarding activity. It is essential that you pick a qualified treasurer and a team dedicated to your goals and your election. Fund raising is usually minimal for this office. If you succeed in getting elected, you will face many challenges rarely connected to your scientific research, but often connected to the scientific method. You will again become a freshman. It is now essential that you gain the trust and confidence of your fellow Board members, and begin to move into committees, chairmanships, and possibly higher offices. You must learn to understand and work with other Board members. I will discuss my election campaign, and my subsequent four years on the New Mexico State Board of Education, including successes and areas of improvement.