A Day in the Life of… Dan Klein

‘A Day in the Life of…” is our recurring column wherein we ask local, everyday people with unique jobs what it’s like to be them. 

This week, we asked Dan Klein, chair of the Tompkins County Legislature, why he got into politics, what he likes about the job, and where the greatest challenges lie. 

How long have you been a legislator, and what made you decide to run for your first term?
This is my 12^th year on the County Legislature. Before that, I was on the Danby Town Board for six years.

I was involved in some local activism in the 1990s and attended various government meetings. A co-activist made a stray comment that we should run for office, and the idea clicked in my head.

When I was asked the most common question, “Why are you running for this position?” I had a hard time answering. The real reason I was running was because I thought I would be good at it. That is a terrible campaign slogan though.

How would you describe your average day on the job?
There are a lot of emails and other background material to read and a lot of conversations to stay current on. There are a lot of meetings to attend. I spend a lot of time writing summaries of issues to keep various people and groups and the public up-to-speed because I have learned that many many people must be involved in the discussion of any issue if that issue is to be successfully resolved. One of the things I like about being on the legislature is that each day is unique.

What do you find to be the most exciting part of your day (or week) as a legislator?
I really enjoy writing summaries of the various conversations and issues that are always going on. It’s gratifying to me to have others appreciate these summaries as a way to be transparent with information and to try to get everyone on the same page in terms of what the facts are, what the issues are, and what decisions need to be made.

When did you first develop an interest in politics?
In 1972, when I was 9 years old, I won 75 cents in a bet with a friend that Nixon would beat McGovern in the presidential election. I wanted McGovern to win, but I was already tuned in enough to politics to know that Nixon would win.

In 4^th grade, we elected a class president each month. I knew I was not popular enough to win right away, so I waited a few rounds before running (and winning) with the campaign slogan “Danny in December.”

I participated in a club called Model Congress in high school. It was still 20 years after that before I consciously realized I had an interest in politics. But looking back, I can see many events that now make clear to me that I was always interested in politics, and that have led me to the position I now have.

What is the hardest part of your job?
Sometimes the legislature meetings are hard to facilitate. They run as long as 5 ½ hours. It takes a lot of focus to keep things on track for that long. People get tired, people get cranky, people get a little unkind to each other sometimes. Some meeting attendees talk a lot.  Running a meeting is a balance between making sure everyone gets to say what they want to say but also keeping the meeting moving along. On the occasions where I don’t strike that balance so well, I feel bad afterwards. A well-run meeting feels good for everyone, a poorly run meeting feels bad for everyone, and this is almost despite the subject matter or what is ultimately accomplished.

Others include:

• Knowing things the public cannot know, such as personnel issues, but getting scolded by the public anyway and not being able to respond.
• The legislature has a unique structure. There are 14 people who have equal power and no boss. We have some strong personalities among the legislators, and the equality of power means there are not always easy ways to navigate the interpersonal situations that arise.
•  I continue to be amazed at how different people see the same situation differently. I feel it is my job to strike a balance between how I personally see a situation and how my constituents or other legislators may see a situation. Striking that balance is not always easy.

What do you enjoy most about being chair of the Tompkins County Legislature?

It took me a while to find the right metaphor to describe what I do. I finally decided I am the conductor of the orchestra. My job is to help the other legislators and the County staff be as effective as possible.

When I got elected to be chair by my colleagues, I promised two things:

1)      I am dropping my own agenda (as much as I can) and I now work for the legislature. My job is to make the legislature – and County government – work as well as it can.

2)      My goal is to hand over the best possible local government to the next legislature.

 I truly feel that I am delivering on my two promises so far, and I find that extremely gratifying.