TY - GEN N2 - In First Person Political, Grant Reeher combats the public's alienation from and distrust of politicians by putting a personal face on everyday political life. Through moving personal interviews, Reeher allows legislators to tell their own stories about how and why they came to politics, the experience of serving in their state legislature, their decisions to stay or leave, and the many trials they face in the name of public service. Reeher contends that these politicians do have the public good in mind and often suffer great personal losses for their chance to represent the people and fight for what they think is right. His research also shows that those who choose to run for office often come from a background of deep community involvement.Reeher argues against public cynicism about our elected officials, and his profiles stir not only our praise and respect for these legislators, but also a greater belief in the democratic process itself. The excerpts from his interviews provide a rarely afforded intimate look at these politicians. What emerges from these stories is a humane and believable portrait of public servants acting on behalf of the public good, a portrait that should provide some comfort, perhaps even inspiration, for citizens concerned about the state of American democracy. DO - 10.18574/nyu/9780814776858.001.0001 DO - doi AB - In First Person Political, Grant Reeher combats the public's alienation from and distrust of politicians by putting a personal face on everyday political life. Through moving personal interviews, Reeher allows legislators to tell their own stories about how and why they came to politics, the experience of serving in their state legislature, their decisions to stay or leave, and the many trials they face in the name of public service. Reeher contends that these politicians do have the public good in mind and often suffer great personal losses for their chance to represent the people and fight for what they think is right. His research also shows that those who choose to run for office often come from a background of deep community involvement.Reeher argues against public cynicism about our elected officials, and his profiles stir not only our praise and respect for these legislators, but also a greater belief in the democratic process itself. The excerpts from his interviews provide a rarely afforded intimate look at these politicians. What emerges from these stories is a humane and believable portrait of public servants acting on behalf of the public good, a portrait that should provide some comfort, perhaps even inspiration, for citizens concerned about the state of American democracy. T1 - First Person Political :Legislative Life and the Meaning of Public Service / AU - Reeher, Grant, JF - New York University Press Backlist eBook-Package 2000-2013 CN - JK1764 LA - eng LA - In English. ID - 1480139 KW - Legislators KW - Political participation KW - Responsibility. KW - POLITICAL SCIENCE / Political Process / General KW - alienation. KW - combats. KW - distrust. KW - everyday. KW - face. KW - from. KW - life. KW - personal. KW - politians. KW - political. KW - publics. KW - putting. KW - this. KW - work. SN - 9780814776858 TI - First Person Political :Legislative Life and the Meaning of Public Service / LK - https://univsouthin.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.degruyter.com/isbn/9780814776858 UR - https://univsouthin.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.degruyter.com/isbn/9780814776858 ER -