Political Office

When people who have held public office talk about their time in office, we often talk about what we accomplished.

The budgets we balanced.
The projects we funded.
The crises we managed.

And those things matter. They affect real people’s lives.

But looking back, I think we should spend more time talking about what we learned.

Because the most lasting impact of my time as Anne Arundel County Executive wasn’t a line item in a budget or a ribbon cutting.

It was what my community taught me.

Today, I stopped at a rest area and looked up at the POW/MIA flag.
In an instant, I was transported back to one of the most meaningful moments of my administration.

Early in my time as County Executive, Dave Cordle taught me the significance of that flag and the promise it represents: that those who served our country and never came home will not be forgotten. Together, we created a ceremony recognizing National POW/MIA Recognition Day in Anne Arundel County.
It was one of those moments that changes you.

Because the truth is, before public service, I never would have known.

I spent most of my career in business. I cared deeply about my community, but my focus was on building companies, solving problems, growing organizations, and making payroll.

Public service widened my lens.

I learned how deeply people care about where they live.

I learned that government employees are often some of the hardest-working people you’ll ever meet.

I learned that people can look at the same issue and reach entirely different conclusions based on their own experiences. And that communication across those differences matters.

I learned that constituent service isn’t a small part of the job; it may be the most important part. People deserve to be heard by those they elect.

I learned that one administration can accomplish extraordinary things, and the next can undo them just as quickly, which is why working together matters.

Most of all, I learned that communities don’t run because of elected officials.

They run because ordinary people show up.

They volunteer. They coach. They advocate. They serve on boards. They organize food drives. They check on neighbors. They dedicate themselves to causes larger than themselves.

I thought I was there to serve my community.

I didn’t expect my community to teach me so much in return.

So if you’re a student looking for experience, someone trying to build your résumé, or simply a person wondering how to make a difference, here’s my advice:

Get involved.

Volunteer for a campaign. Serve on a nonprofit board. Attend a community meeting. Support a cause you care about. Run for office if that’s where your path leads.

It doesn’t have to be the perfect candidate or the perfect party.

Just participate.

Because when you do, you’ll discover things about your community – and yourself – that you never would have learned from the sidelines.

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