Katherine, I ran for school board because people wanted the kinds of changes I mentioned and drafted me to get that job done.

Back then, my idea of civic duty ended when it risked my family's lives. Today, I have regrets about that, because a lot of school board members in our country are going through the same thing I did. I suspect many of them will end up cowards like me and withdraw from public life - and that is a dirty rotten shame. Walter is right, we need to protect people who are serving us.

What did your dad do for a living?

I did not get a salary. Serving in public office truly is a public service - and very, very few elected officials in local government are paid.