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ELECTION 2026 - The election season in Los Angeles is now ready to bloom with candidates now officially entered. This is an important transition for them. At this moment they are ready to accept scrutiny and risks that will surely come. But valor is measured by willingness, not outcome, and all candidates are indeed courageous.
Theodore Roosevelt illustrated the process eloquently. In a passage from his “Man in the Arena” speech he declared that the world belonged to those who show up. Filing for office is the modern equivalent of stepping into that arena. Unlike those who judge and critique from the sidelines, those who enter the arena accept the consequences of action. They stand above the “cold and timid souls” who never risked anything.
As elections neared, some who thought about running, the so-called declared but undeclared candidates enjoyed a temporary identity fantasy, accepted early praise and attention, signaled ambition, and political relevancy, without risk. They remained on the sidelines.
When private individuals become official candidates, they shift into the role of public figures. The challenging journey ahead involves legal responsibilities, strategic planning, personal trials, and civic duties. For them, it is a true test of character and capability.
The candidate’s life is now open for inspection, past and current ideas expressed, motives, successes and failures Remarkable composure is demanded, and resiliency. With clarity, the candidate must articulate beliefs, values, and positions on issues, and all without ambiguity, while absorbing criticism. Yet, despite this frantic predicament, every candidate expands the public conversation.
I have been there. I had a vision for Los Angeles and was passionate and committed to public service. My city, Los Angeles, was in a crisis facing many challenges, including an economic slowdown and pessimism that this ethnically diverse city was too difficult to govern. So, I declared my candidacy for mayor in the 1993 elections with a slogan, “A Man with a Plan,” proposing to use transit levers to implement my vision.
In retrospect, my foresight for transit-oriented development was years ahead of its time for the voter and too esoteric to be explained in thirty-second sound bites. But I made my position known and my vision is now part of every planner’s and politician’s lexicon.
Unquestionably, candidates play a crucial role in keeping democracy active. By presenting their vision for public judgment, they encourage public engagement and help shape the future. This openness strengthens democracy by making it responsive to citizens' needs.
My ongoing engagement with politics and civic affairs has afforded me continuous discovery opportunities. I am intimately familiar with the responsibilities that candidates encounter. The political world develops a different depth, and your inner world gets reorganized. Your mind is shaped now by pressure, scrutiny, and vulnerability. Your focus is heightened and your sense of mission is lifted. Your goals shift from personal ones to collective ones.
Becoming a candidate also requires a significant shift in identity. Once you file, you move from being a private citizen with personal viewpoints to a public figure with responsibilities. Candidates must address numerous challenges, and concurrently ensure their message resonates effectively. The nagging question is: is it achieving the desired level of engagement?
But first comes the development of the campaign infrastructure, and the hiring of core staff to manage finance, communications, and field operations. A volunteer onboarding system must be built, involving completing enrollment procedures and paperwork and orienting the new volunteers to their roles, developing websites, and mailing lists, and establishing a campaign calendar. Important legal and compliance requirements must be followed, such as filing of financial disclosures, registration of campaign committee, appointment of a treasurer and compliance lead, opening bank account, setting up contribution and expenditure tracking, and reviewing repeatedly ethics and conflict of interest rules.
In a brief time, candidates assume a representative role, embodying change, optimism and hope for the community. The sense of responsibility is internalized, prompting more thoughtful and prudent decision-making. Each action is carefully evaluated, with candidates prepared to address and accept the outcomes associated with public leadership.
I have witnessed how this process tests the resolve of each candidate. Some may falter under pressure, while others rise to new heights, embracing their elevated position. Regardless of the outcome, win or lose, the experience leaves an indelible mark on everyone who steps into the arena. No one remains unaffected.
True, the candidate faces a system that is intricate, exhausting, and unforgiving. Entering the arena is itself a civic contribution. On their shoulders candidates carry the hopes of supporters, the frustration of communities and the responsibility to articulate a vision that will bring results.
We must salute all candidates because they chose responsibility over comfort, commitment over critique, leadership over apathy, selfish motives, and indifference. And because they provide us with a choice. Democracy depends on people willing to stand up. Taking initiative, sharing ideas, and embracing leadership are essential for a dynamic and responsive democracy.
(Nick Patsaouras is an electrical engineer, civic leader, and a longtime public advocate. He ran for Mayor in 1993 with a focus on rebuilding L.A. through transportation after the 1992 civil unrest. He has served on major public boards, including the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Metro, and the Board of Zoning Appeals, helping guide infrastructure and planning policy in Los Angeles. He is the author of the book "The Making of Modern Los Angeles.")
