A recent reader comment on our story about a school board candidate, reminds us of an ongoing concern about some people who run for public office.

Laura Maurer is one of three candidates vying for two seats on the Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board from Region B. The reader comment said that Ms. Maurer hadn’t been to any school board meetings before her candidacy. And one of her opponents, Holly Manzone, said Ms. Maurer had only attended one.

Ms. Muarer has not been active in her township –Newlin – or within the school board prior to her candidacy by her own admission. And while this should not disqualify her from seeking office it makes one wonder why anyone would vote for her. She is a virtual unknown who has not taken the time to become known before running.

Feeling passionate about an issue is good and necessary, but a track record of activism is needed, too, especially if you’re an underdog or an unknown.

This is reminiscent of two supervisors’ races in 2007, one in Chadds Ford Township and another in Birmingham Township where Democratic Party candidates didn’t start going to supervisors’ meetings until they announced their candidacy.

These people were nothing more than paper candidates and were doomed to fail because of that.

If a person wants to run for office – and have any realistic chance of winning – they must attend meetings well before they become candidates, not just come out of the woodwork at election time and hope to win.

Another error some candidates make is to not take advantage of a reporter’s offer for an interview. This is happening now in the race for the Republican Party nomination for supervisor in Pennsbury.

Three times has Steve Eichinger been called and three times he has failed to return calls.

He and Aaron McIntyre want the Republican nomination to run for supervisor in November. Both were told the same night that they would be contacted for an interview and both were called two days after the supervisors’ meeting April 15.

While neither was available that first phone call, Mr. McIntyre did return the call within hours. Repeated phone calls to Mr. Eichinger for three weeks have gone unanswered and unreturned. We have to question the seriousness of his candidacy.

Attending meetings and talking to the press are two of the three most fundamental methods of reaching the electorate, of showing a candidate to be aware of issues and worthy of a person’s vote, of showing respect for the voting public. Knocking on doors is good, but adding the other two methods makes for a stronger  appearance.

Would be office holders need to be meeting the press and pressing the flesh well before becoming candidates.