First of all, you have to be well if you run for office.

By this, I mean you must not be dealing with personal problems. You must understand that you will be treated by many as “public property” if you should win the election.

You will be in the public eye, watched closely by people who will (understandably) treat you as if you are working for them, which is actually true.

And you will be on duty as the servant of your constituents in your every waking hour.

That’s especially true because all Nunavut MLAs, even those from Iqaluit, live in what are essentially small communities; you must be prepared to be in the public eye. Don’t run for office if you are not willing to surrender some of your privacy to the people who elected you. They will stop you in the grocery store, at the airport or on the beach when you are getting ready to go boating. They will watch what you do and how you conduct yourself at all times.

So don’t put yourself in the position of being visible and being watched at all times — including by those who did NOT support you — if you are also dealing with personal issues, including addictions or depression. I have seen too many MLAs “crash and burn” who were not personally well and ready for what is a very privileged job but which can also be very demanding.

We don’t have to look far to remember well-known and tragic examples of people who experienced personal loss from the pressures of being unwell while trying to hold public office.

And by the way, everyone takes ownership of the winner as “my MLA,” whether they voted for you or not. One thing you will learn is that after an election, thanks to the secret ballot, almost everyone will say afterward that they voted for you and that you owe them in return.

Having your personal act together does not just require that you are well mentally and physically. It also means that you must have strong support from your nuclear family in particular. If you do not have that strong family support, beginning with your partner, then do NOT run for office.

The job requires long hours and travel. You will have to make sacrifices and miss important events with family and friends. I have seen too many marriages and political careers falter under the strain of public life.

You have to like people if you are going into politics. The attitude you should have going into a campaign is that people are interesting and can be fun. Some people are carrying problems and issues, and can lash out. They just want to vent. You must be tolerant of that. And it usually does not help if you are the type of person who will always want to push back.

Being a good listener is probably the single most important quality voters expect from someone who runs for public office. They’d rather not hear someone at their door tell them what you will do for them. They’d rather be asked what is important to them — what would they like to see different in their lives.

In the process of applying to be their representative in the upcoming Oct. 27 territorial election, you will learn what matters to your constituents and you will be motivated to work hard to help them improve their lives.

Running for MLA is like a job interview. Yes, you talk about your background and your education and experience. But most important, you learn what your employer wants from you.

You will learn what people most care about. They will vent and express their disappointments and expectations. They will express their anger. And they will express their hopes and dreams.

When you are applying for the job of MLA, all you can do is give them your time to hear what they think. Once elected, you will have plenty of opportunities to speak and express your thoughts and beliefs.

The Hon. Dennis Patterson represented Nunavut in the Senate from 2008 to 2023. He was premier of the Northwest Territories from 1987 to 1991, and played a key role in the Nunavut land claim agreement.