Candidates often make a lot of promises. “I’ll improve public safety.  I’ll improve our schools. I’ll create jobs. I’ll cut the bureaucracy, I’ll get spending under control.”

But the reality is that very few things happen quickly, or easily. Being successful as an elected official often means taking small steps.

There is an old saying that you need to learn to walk before you learn to run. Once a person is in office they learn that government often works slowly.  They need to learn to walk, sometimes slowly. This is hard. Candidates may have spent a year or more “running” for office. Now they need to pace themselves for the slow, often frustrating process of governing. Small steps not big steps will determine whether a candidate will be successful as an elected official

Larry Tramutola is writing a book providing advice to newly elected officials. The book will be a practical guide for those who are elected to local public offices – school boards, city councils and special districts. If you have any comments or suggestions, please send the to info@tramutola.com . Thank you.