If there is one thing that can be said about Appalachian people, it is that they love their politics. In most small towns politics is a way of life. In every conversation in every town restaurant, politics will be the topic. Running for an office is one of the few ways to attain social status in these small towns.
Many candidates run for office just for the power the position commands.
Others may run for the financial benefits. In many Appalachian towns jobs are scarcest. Holding a public office is one way to ensure a paycheck, at least for four years. A few people actually run for an office because they see the need for a change and want to make those changes. Even though new election laws have changed the face of local elections in recent years, many of the practices described in this article still exist.