Back To School

As the summer legislative session wound down last week, many of my colleagues talked about family vacations planned for the summer. Instead of going on vacation, I decided to spend some time this summer going back to school. In fact, I am writing this article from my dorm room.

I have been accepted into the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. This is an intensive three-week program for elected officials, emergency responders and public administrators from all over the world (my roommates are from North Dakota and Australia).

I went through a rigorous selection process, which included writing about the challenges I deal with as a State Representative and how I can handle them better. In the end, I was chosen as one of eighty students out of a field of over six hundred applicants. The program is designed to take us “out of our comfort zone” in order to approach problems more effectively.

In particular, the program enables participants to become more effective public servants by challenging assumptions about how to exercise leadership in the public sector, developing new conceptual frameworks for addressing policy issues, examining innovative partnerships and new models of collaborative governance, exploring the relationship between citizens and their government, understanding the behavioral dimensions of decision-making and exchanging ideas with experienced faculty and a diverse group of colleagues.

The program isn’t cheap- it costs $11,800.00 (plus incidentals). Because there were no scholarships available, and because I absolutely did not want the taxpayers to foot the bill, I did what most students do- I took out a student loan for $10,000.00.

Why am I doing this? It’s simple. I believe learning is a lifelong process, and I realize there is an awful lot I don’t know yet. The opportunity to learn from a truly world-class faculty was just too good to pass up, which has been affirmed after just the first day of classes. Before I realized it, I was thinking about issues I had long considered to be settled in my mind in a somewhat different way.

But more importantly, I recognize a change in approach is something I probably need. I have just as much passion as I did the day I was sworn into office, if not more. But passion without a positive, responsible approach can quickly lead you away from your priorities, and I realize I have allowed myself to approach some of the situations I’m passionate about in a way that could have been handled differently. I owe it to you, the people I represent, and just as importantly to myself, to do better.

I don’t apologize for my passion, and I certainly don’t plan on sacrificing it anytime soon. But I know I can do a better job, and I want to do whatever it takes to discover the knowledge, skills and temperament to improve. The voters of the 46th Legislative District have entrusted me to be their voice, which is something I take very seriously.

To be clear, I don’t intend to avoid tackling controversial issues or taking positions some people may disagree with, but I will be directing my energy towards finding solutions instead of simply fighting the fight. It’s about more than being a better state legislator; it’s about wanting to be the best possible husband to my wife, the most effective advocate for our communities and a better man for myself.

Over the next couple weeks, I’ll be sharing some of my experiences from my time here at Harvard and look forward to putting what I discover into practical use when I get home. After all, what’s the point of going back to school if you don’t learn anything?