So that makes 5.

Tom, I know politicians from the inside out. The job would tear you up some, but you'd definitely make some holes before you were through. I can honestly say that I could know with confidence where you stood on a particular issue, even though you sometimes infuriate me, and that, once faced with actual evidence (which you would be, in the form of human beings bombarding you with their own stories, once you were an elected official), you have the mental flexibility to modify your actions without compromising your principles.

Just one tip: I have, on and off, considered running for school board here, and may yet once the new library and my now greatly expanded job coalesce into something more predictable. During family discussions of such a move, we agreed that one of the expenses would be a third phone line, an unlisted one, since publicly elected officeholders are required to be available to the public. The message on our current home phone number's answering machine would be: "Hello. You have reached the [your family name here] residence. If you know the magic number, please hang up and dial it now. If you are calling on work-related business, please call the work number [insert any and all work phones and extensions here] and leave a message there. Please note that school board business left on work voice mail will be ignored and deleted without reply. If you are calling on school board business, or any other business, please leave a message and we'll get back to you. Thanks!" People can and will call at 6 AM and at midnight. They are more important than you. :/

Best regards--
Mary Anne