RUNNING FOR POLITICAL OFFICE - IF AT FIRST YOU DONT SUCCEED

Psychologists are serving in several state legislatures and gaining fi rsthand experience as political candidates. This article chronicles a psychologist's 1994 campaign for the Washington State House of Represe ntatives. Campaign vignettes, political strategies, and the candidate' s personal perceptions illuminate the value (even necessity) of psycho logists entering politics. Psychologists bring to legislative delibera tions a strong fund of knowledge about critical social issues such as health care, violence, and children's needs. Psychologists also posses s effective interpersonal and group dynamic skills that can be real as sets in developing public policy. A commitment to advocacy for mental health services and a community service ethic provide motivation for s eeking office; indeed, entering politics can be viewed more as a logic al extension of psychological work than as a deviation from it.