I ran for local office in a tiny little suburb. When asked if I was Republican or Democrat, I would say, neither (which is true enough) and also, local office is about us finding a way to live next to each other regardless of what we are.

I knocked on doors and refused a local businessperson's offer to buy me yard signs because I didn't want to be owned by anyone. I lost big to my opponent, a Democratic party operative who spent money on yard signs and knocked on very few doors.