After surviving exhausting midterm elections in which we saw two blockbuster races for governor and U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, we voters get a breather of sorts between now and the Presidential election of 2024. And just for good measure, we will have another U.S. Senate race along with the presidential contest since the term of Democrat Bob Casey comes to an end in 2024. He is expected to run for another six-year term.

In between these high-powered elections will be what’s known as “municipal elections” in 2023. Actually, it’s more than municipalities; there will be key county, judicial and school board elections, too.

Some of you have thought about running for office, but making this crucial decision is not one to be taken lightly. While it is noteworthy for anyone who wants to serve his or her community, a candidate must be aware of the many steps that are involved, which are only a prelude to actually serving in the office.

One of the first things that a potential candidate must decide is whether the family is on board with the decision. Many local politicians in Carbon and Schuylkill counties have told me over the years that they expect criticism for their actions and decisions, but they become really angry when members of their family, who have nothing to do with their decision-making, are also attacked verbally and sometimes threatened physically on social media or when they are innocently out in public.

One of the major obstacles is trying to dislodge an incumbent, especially one who has held the office for a period of time. It can be done, however, as Sen.-elect Jarrett Coleman defeated Sen. Pat Browne in last year’s Republican primary. The power of the incumbency is not just an idle catch phrase, it is a reality. One of a candidate’s major problems to solve is to gain name recognition, a benefit the incumbent already has.

Having covered political campaigns for more than 60 years, I feel qualified to give these tips to prospective officeholders:

• Awareness of what is involved is mandatory before a formal decision is made. Commitment to what could become an all-consuming campaign, depending on the office involved, is mandatory, and fire in the belly to do the necessary work to run a successful campaign and see it through is paramount.

• Having a platform is a necessity. Why are you running? What do you hope to accomplish? How do you best convey this to possible supporters and voters?

My advice is to ask a lot of questions so that you will know what you are getting into. It’s easy to fall into the trap of going to a borough council or school board meeting, seeing members seated around a table for an hour or two and thinking, “This looks like a piece of cake; I can do this.”

Just remember there is so much that goes on behind the scenes, and much of it is extremely time-consuming. Most elected officials also serve on committees, which have their own meetings. Research and inquiry are needed to be well-informed and to come to intelligent decisions about a vast array of issues. Boring as it is sometimes, planning and zoning decisions can affect municipalities for years to come

Some local organizations such as the League of Women Voters hold boot camps for those considering running for office. The organization brings in officeholders, campaign staffers, news media representatives and others who can instruct prospective candidates on how to operate their campaigns.

There is some basic information you’ll need to know. Aside from confirming that you are eligible to seek an office, you will need to know how to get on the ballot. There are specific rules and regulations about who can sign nominating petitions which are required for a candidacy to become official. If you need 100 signatures of qualified voters for the office for which you are seeking it’s best to get a lot more in case some of the signatures are questioned by election officials or an opponent and disallowed.

If you are seeking financial help, you will need to set up a committee to receive and spend money, and you will be required to report this information periodically to satisfy legal requirements.

You must make the decision whether you want the hassle to run for a school board seat that pays nothing but which may cost you several hundred dollars to pursue. Even a seat on borough council pays a minimum amount, $1,875-$5,000 annually based on the municipality’s population.

It’s a good idea to surround yourself with experienced people, especially those who may have held office or who have worked on campaigns.

Then there is the matter of electioneering - media advertising, using social media effectively, going door-to-door and participating in many community-based events.

Most officeholders to whom I have spoken over the years say that the positives of holding office outweigh the negatives, but you must have broad shoulders.

By Bruce Frassinelli | tneditor@tnonline.com