My big announcement and how it affects this blog

So, in case you missed it...

Today I'm excited to announce my candidacy for Paducah City Commission! This town is ready for the next generation of...

Posted by Sarah Stewart Holland on Monday, January 25, 2016

I had a big day yesterday! I filed to run for Paducah City Commission and announced my candidacy on Facebook. I was so overwhelmed by all the support I received and I wanted to make sure and share this big next step with all of you.

I've thought a lot about this blog (and Pantsuit Politics) as I got close to announcing my candidacy. The traditional advice is to clean up your Facebook and other social media platforms. Remove offensive posts. Take down anything that could anger a voter. When I recently wrote this post, many of my friends who knew I was considering a run for office questioned my timing... and maybe my judgment. 

But here's the thing.

I've lived my life online since 2011. I've written a lot about a lot of things from parenting philosophies to politics to religion to my marriage. I couldn't take it all down even if I wanted to and - the truth is - I don't want to. 

I want to be a politician. I suppose I already am. But that's not ALL I am. I'm also a mother with thoughts on sleep-training and a wife with thoughts on therapy and a citizen with thoughts on gun control and a church goer with thoughts on faith.

I am all those things and the sooner we allow politicians to be complex people with complex beliefs the better off we all will be.

So, the answer to how my candidacy will affect this blog is - it won't, except hopefully it will teach me all kinds of lessons I can share.  I'm still going to come here and be honest and be vulnerable. I'm still going to go on Pantsuit Politics and be "Sarah Holland from the left."

If something I say means someone won't vote for me, then so be it.

Come November 7th I hope to be Paducah's next City Commissioner, but it will be a shallow victory if I don't recognize the person I became to get there. 

I'm counting on all of you to keep me honest and to keep me real. Win or lose it's going to be a heck of a journey!

If you want to get involved with my campaign or make a donation, check out my campaign website!