Who in their right mind would want to keep this full-time, unpaid, volunteer job?

Natalie King
2 days ago
2 min read

Well… me, apparently.

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Serving as Chair of the Montgomery County Democratic Party is a full-time, unpaid volunteer role. I know this because people keep asking why I still do it — usually with the same tone as “You know you don’t get paid for that, right?”

Yes. I know. This wasn’t a misunderstanding.

Here’s the thing:Local democracy does not fly itself. County parties are the engine room. Not the speeches. Not the hats. Not the hero shots. The actual work. We recruit and support candidates, train and organize volunteers, follow election law so nobody accidentally ends up finding out the hard way why the rules actually exist, or running on luck instead of maintenance. When it’s working, nobody notices.When it’s not, the ship starts rattling, alarms go off, and suddenly everyone’s asking who touched the controls.

Let’s also be clear: no one takes this job to be liked. County Chair is not a popularity contest. It’s rules-lawyering, cat-herding, and being the person who has to say “no” while everyone else would really prefer to aim to misbehave. If everyone’s comfortable all the time, something important is being ignored.

This role isn’t about recognition or ambition. It’s about responsibility. It’s making sure the party runs ethically, competently, and consistently for Democrats in Montgomery County — even when that means being the least fun person on the ship. I’m not the one with the speeches. I’m the one keeping us flying when the engine makes a noise it definitely should not be making. And in a county like ours, that matters.

A lot of people here feel politically isolated, worn down, or quietly discouraged — like they’re out past the edge of Alliance space, doing their best with what they’ve got. A functioning local party gives people a place to belong, organize, and participate without pretending to be something they’re not. That takes time, attention, and a willingness to do the work no one applauds.

So why do I keep doing it?

Because the work needs doing.Because I can do it.And because strong county parties are how you keep flying — even when it’s hard, even when it’s thankless, even when nobody’s cheering from the cargo bay.

I don’t need to be liked. I need this ship to fly.

Natalie