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If you were one of the Libertarian candidates who joined the growing ranks of hundreds of elected Libertarians, congratulations.

Now you must be thinking, “what do I do now?”

Four things lay a strong foundation to becoming a successful Libertarian official, and thus a successfully re-elected Libertarian candidate.

1) Constituent service comes first.

While Libertarian principles are important and should guide every vote, keep in mind most people did not vote for you to get a lecture on how Austrian economics applies to Request For Bid on repairing the water treatment plant.  People expect one thing of their elected officials, especially at the local level — constituent service.

If their street has a pothole, a streetlight is out, a bus shelter has graffiti or the high school football team needs new shoes — you are on top of it and the problem gets solved quickly.  That, more than anything else, is what being an elected official comes down to.  You’re going to spend more time taking calls from people who want their streets plowed than you will spend debating economic issues.

That means you should make sure every constituent has a phone number where they may reach you, especially in the evenings and on weekends when they are home.  Providing a home or cell phone number is ideal.

And that means making sure the problem is solved to their liking.  Take detailed notes when a constituent calls, take down contact information, REMEMBER THEIR NAME and give them a date and time you will call them back with an update.

Bring the matter to the immediate attention of the government staffer responsible for resolving the issue and STAY ON TOP OF THEM.  Despite the stereotype, many government staffers are heavily overworked and unless you keep politely asking for updates on progress your request will find its way deeper down the inbox.

2) Stay visible, and in constant communication.

Be sure to publish updates and newsletters to your constituents.  An e-mail newsletter can be quickly written and published for free.  Be sure to ask constituents to provide e-mail addresses so you can provide free updates on what is going on with the city council/town council/school board/water board, etc.

If your office has a budget, you can also print, publish and mail a print newsletter to constituents.  The voter database is best to use, as it includes nearly every occupied household and is the easiest database to narrow down to your district.

Voters expect you to not only serve their needs, but to keep them informed.  Do your duty.

The newsletter also keeps you atop a voter’s mind, and lets them know you are someone they can trust and go to when they need problems solved.

The bonus?  A good chunk of the electorate, especially in down-ballot races, may only recognize one or two names on the ballot.  They’re busy people.  If your name is one of them, that may be enough to cinch victory.

3) Mind your manners.

Always be polite to everyone, especially if they are not polite to you.  Elected officials quickly become unelected chumps based on nothing more than a reputation for being difficult or short-tempered — especially at the local level.

Elected officials who yell at or belittle constituents, office staffers and government staffers will soon find themselves the subject of unflattering news coverage and neighborhood gossip — and that alone can be enough to sink a sure re-election bid.  Just this last week I saw it happen twice.

Never, ever, ever lose your temper or treat anyone with disrespect, even if they are being disrespectful to you.  As an elected official, you are held to a higher standard and have a lot more to lose than a surly government staffer or a constituent upset their pothole isn’t being patched quickly enough.

4) Constituent service comes first.

I’m repeating it for one reason.  THIS is your job.

Serving constituents politely, quickly to their satisfaction is — more than anything else — what being an elected official is all about.  It’s also the one thing ALL voters expect from you.

Treat each constituent’s problem, issue or request as your own, because it is.  You represent and serve, so get out there and do your job.

Do your job, and voters will more often than not re-elect you to do it again — even if they disagree with your personal views.  Providing prompt, courteous, top-to-bottom constituent service should be your top priority at all times.