Somebody’s Gotta Do It: Why Cursing at the News Won’t Save the Nation, But Your Name on a Local Ballot Can

Journalist Martini (Hillbilly Gothic) documents her anguish in the wake of the 2016 election and traces her path to becoming a county board member in Upstate New York in this entertaining political memoir. Though Martini quickly discovered that there was a lack of resources for neophytes interested in running for local offices, she attended “candidate school” to learn the rules of campaigning, went door to door to collect the signatures needed to get on the ballot in Otsego County, and eventually won, becoming one of 14 delegates overseeing a budget of $105 million. Through the process, Martini discovered that local politics matter more than national races: “It’s not that federal races aren’t important. It’s that local offices have more control over your services and, sometimes, your life.” Offering self-deprecating humor, practical advice (such as packing snacks for long committee meetings), and insights into obscure but important issues (among them flaws in the county coroner system that lead to conflicts of interest and a lack of transparency), Martini elevates her story above the minutiae of county board proceedings. The result is a useful guide for those contemplating the plunge into electoral politics. (Mar.)