Denver Catholic

44 OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2026 | DENVER CATHOLIC Start Close to Home When people think about politics, their attention often goes immediately to presidential elections, Congress or other national debates. Those are important, yet some of the decisions with the greatest impact on our daily lives happen much closer to home. My first political job involved following local boards and commis- sions and tracking city council and county commissioner meetings. I saw decisions being made about zoning, water, property and how local tax dollars would be spent. Many of these decisions receive little attention because the national political spotlight is so bright. This is where the Catholic principle of subsidiarity becomes espe- cially important. I did not realize it at the time, but my own path through politics followed the principles of subsidiarity and solidarity: I started locally and used that experience to work statewide while respecting the role of those smaller communities. The best work often happens at the local level, where communi- ties know their own needs best. That means Catholics interested in political service do not need to start by imagining a congressional campaign. Look at your city council, county commission or school board. Learn about planning and zoning commissions, water districts and other local boards. Find out what seats are vacant or coming up for election. Then start showing up. We make Catholic family history books. A book about your family, researched in the parish records and bound to hand down. Anne & Joachim H E R I T A G E P R E S S A Catholic family-history studio in Castle Rock, Colorado Our founder's own family book, open to the records. W H A T I T C O N T A I N S 90% Built from the sacramental records of the Church. Baptisms, marriages, death records, village maps, ship crossing manifests, homestead records, war records. 10% From your photos, recipes, family letters. For a 50th anniversary, a 90th birthday, Christmas, or the grandchildren. Begin here Scan the code, or go to ajhpress.com/start Private. No obligation. Take the First Step Getting involved in politics can seem out of reach, as though you need a large following, political connections or significant fundraising support. That has not been my experience. The worst thing we can do is become intimidated and sit on the sidelines. When I began in politics, I started by researching what was actually happening and then getting involved with advocacy groups. If I had to begin again, I would start by meeting people already involved (like the Catholic Conference) and learning from them. Talk to fellow parishioners who are active in your community. Attend local government meetings. Develop relationships with lawmakers, staff and advocates. Contact your state Catholic Conference, which can help you understand important issues and connect with others already engaged in public life. Most importantly, be consistent and present.

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