When Marian Walsh was 33 years old, she sensed that
something was missing in her life. Born into a loving family in one of Boston’s
southernmost neighborhoods - Roslindale, Walsh attended and
graduated from Ursuline Academy in Dedham and Newton College of the Sacred
Heart in Newton Centre (part of Boston College since 1974).
By 1988, she had several advanced degrees – a master’s degree from Harvard’s Divinity school and a law degree from Suffolk University. Yet, Walsh felt what she now describes as a ‘void’ in her life. She had been raised with a sense of gratitude – or paying it back. That feeling of appreciation became a passion for public service as a means to pay it forward.
By 1988, she had several advanced degrees – a master’s degree from Harvard’s Divinity school and a law degree from Suffolk University. Yet, Walsh felt what she now describes as a ‘void’ in her life. She had been raised with a sense of gratitude – or paying it back. That feeling of appreciation became a passion for public service as a means to pay it forward.
Marian
Walsh recounts the story that when she reported her father that she wanted to
run for office, he cautioned her to go home and sleep on it. Her father had and
has always been one of her role models and an inspiring example of goodness and
faith. Dr. Walsh might have even hoped
that she’d change her mind.
Marian did
sleep on it and soon after she decided she wanted to become a representative in
the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
And
that meant she would have to RUN.
And
so, she began in the winter of 1988 to RUN for the office of representative in the
Massachusetts House. In the next eight months, she learned how to challenge
others in a primary and general election to win a seat to serve the 10th
Suffolk District. Her efforts were methodical and organized, ground swelling
and successful. Marian discovered that
it doesn’t matter how many votes you get –what matters is that you get
enough votes to win.
Sometime
before last Christmas, I was sent Marian’s book “Run: Your Personal Guide to
Winning Public Office” (2012) and asked if I would be interested in
interviewing Marian for Norwood Public Access –TV. I’m always enthusiastic
about reading, of course, and find meeting and interviewing authors challenging
and rewarding. And fun, to be honest.
I’m not particularly camera-shy, and interviewing is my preferred camera-time.
I agreed, and we set a date for the interview. (Check NPA-TV schedules for
times and dates that this interview will be broadcast).
I
took Marian's book with me over my Christmas holiday vacation, wanting to find
some time to begin reading. My poor husband, Gerry, found it there on my
nightstand and finally asked one day if I were planning on running for office.
I certainly thought he knew me better than that! The last election in which I
ran against an opponent was in 8th grade. I lost. That explains why, while I’ve
been elected many times to boards of the organizations I volunteer for, I never
run opposed but prefer the automatic shoe-in vote.
However, while I wasn’t planning to compete for a
political office, I wanted and needed to read Marian Walsh’s book cover to
cover before the interview. Not only did
I want to know more about our former senator, I was curious about her journey
to the State House. I quickly realized that it is not just a useful book for
potential candidates, but a book about following your heart, keeping your
faith, and continually challenging yourself.
It is a personal story of Walsh's strength, resolution, inspiration,
organization, and realization of a goal.
Additionally,
it’s a reminder about the freedom we cherish as Americans, particularly those
of us who live so close to where it all began in 1776 with the Declaration of
Independence. The cover of Walsh’s book
depicts a beloved work of art – one of Norman Rockwell’s “Four Essential Human
Freedoms”, the “Freedom of Speech”. In
the introduction to her book, Marian instructs the reader that Rockwell was
inspired by President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s address to Congress on January 6,
1941. Rockwell’s series of four oil
paintings were completed by 1943, and they included the Freedom of Speech,
Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear. The four appeared in the Saturday Evening
Post and then toured the country on exhibition, raising money for war bonds. Roosevelt’s rousing speech was eventually
included in the charter of the United Nations.
Marian
Walsh was the first woman to serve in the Massachusetts House and the
Massachusetts Senate. She ran in nine
consecutive races, one for the House and eight more for the Senate and she
served a total of 22 years before retiring from public office in 2010. Her book includes personal stories, insight,
and advice that will help anyone who is thinking about running for public
office. That office could be anything –
a spot on the board of library trustees or the board of selectmen, or a seat in
the State or Federal legislature.
Included
in the narrative (the narrative often alternates with practical advice, lists,
and checklists), are testimonies of Walsh’s own personal struggles with the opinions
of her district and her own opinion. She
discusses four serious and heart-wrenching issues, including her stand on Civil
Marriage for gay and lesbian citizens of Massachusetts, abortion, the death
penalty, and the Catholic clergy abuse scandal.
She shares her personal struggle, her months of research, her challenges
of faith, and the road to her own commitment. Marian describes how these
demands taught her to become comfortable in uncomfortable discussions,
even those when she knew she was at odds with her constituents.
Walsh's journey is proof that getting elected takes
a family, nearly an army of volunteers – friends, family and supporters to walk
beside on the campaign road. She
provides much practical advice (bring water, store a change of shirts in your
car, knock on each and every door you find, keep a smile on your face, and hand
write thank you notes every day.)
Possibly
the most important advice of all is that you must be present. Nothing should distract you from your
personal connection. Put the cell phone
away, put the coffee or tea down, and tuck any notes you receive into your
pockets for reading later. Every voter
deserves your attention, your smile, and your honesty and conviction.
Marian
Walsh will be speaking at the Morrill Memorial Library on March 10 at 7:00 in
the evening. I encourage you to
attend. Please call or visit the library
to reserve a seat to hear her personal story.
