Government By The Majority Who Participate
Growing up, I had a front-row seat to the commitment it takes to serve in public office. My dad is the Presiding Judge in the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois, and has been an elected official for as long as I can remember. He has shown me that leadership isn’t just about holding a title; it’s about showing up, consistently and courageously, for the people you serve. For 14 years, he held a seat on the school board of Catlin Community Schools, where I watched him help shape the future of our schools. Later, he served as the Recorder of Deeds, and ten years ago today, he was on the ballot for Circuit Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court in Illinois. And though they say it is taboo to talk about who you vote for, I’ll let you in on a secret—I voted for him.
That campaign wasn’t just an election; it was a year-long journey in resilience, humility, and commitment. I learned, watching my dad, that leadership means showing up fully, even when the road ahead is long and hard. I’ll never forget the weekends we spent at pancake breakfasts, parades, or going door-to-door in neighborhoods across the district. I didn’t know then how deeply this experience would shape me, but it’s one reason I haven’t missed a vote since.
Watching him campaign, I saw the courage it takes to put yourself out there, knowing you’ll be judged on every word and every step. Leadership means risking rejection and showing up regardless. It’s courage mixed with sheer persistence—week after week, we made connections in small moments over pancakes, handshakes, and conversations on doorsteps. Dozens of friends, family members, and neighbors joined us, giving their time to support him. I realized then that true leadership isn’t a solo act; it’s about bringing others along and recognizing the journey as something shared.
Then there’s vulnerability. I can still hear my dad’s voice on the radio, recalling how his father came home in grease-stained shirts after long days at Hyster. His story was more than campaign material—it was a window into his values. Leadership requires letting people see the real you, and sometimes that meant sharing parts of himself that were unpolished and deeply personal. My mom’s voice, too, played over the airwaves as she appealed to the women in our community, speaking from the heart. That openness taught me that real leaders allow others to see who they truly are, beyond slogans and titles.
Of course, not every encounter was friendly. I remember knocking on the door of one woman who greeted me with nothing but criticism for my dad. She looked me straight in the eye and told me she had no use for him, asking why I would dare support him. I could’ve snapped back; instead, I thanked her for her time and walked away. As frustrating as it was, I knew that trying to convince her wasn’t for her benefit, and it certainly wasn’t for his. Sometimes, leadership means respecting others’ views and recognizing when to step back gracefully.
And maybe the hardest lesson of all was having faith in the process—knowing that, no matter the result, we had done everything we could and that what was meant to be, would be. Waiting for the results, all we could do was hope that his integrity, dedication, and hard work would shine through. But in the end, leadership is about accepting that some things are beyond our control, and trusting the outcome.
At the heart of this entire experience, though, was a lesson I hadn’t expected: the humanity behind the candidates on the ballot. When the campaign is over and the results are in, the winners and losers go home to their families, just as we did. On Wednesday, regardless of the outcome, Former President Trump and Vice President Harris will hold their families close, retreating from the intensity of the campaign trail. Behind the names on every ballot are people who have committed their lives to serve, who are willing to be vulnerable and judged in ways that most of us can’t imagine. When we vote, we shouldn’t just vote to “cancel out” someone else. We should vote for the person we believe can best serve our community, our country, and our values—not merely against the other option.
Show Up and Vote
My dad taught me that leadership means showing up fully for what you believe in—and that includes the responsibility to vote. Voting is one of the most powerful ways we influence the future of our country. As Thomas Jefferson said, “We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.” True leaders set the example by showing up, creating the time and space for others to participate, and encouraging every voice to be heard. When we stay home, we allow our future to be shaped by those who do show up. So tomorrow, let’s honor that responsibility. Let’s show up for our country, for the values we hold, and for the future we want to see.