On The Record: Sue Funkhouser

For this episode of On The Record, we speak with Sue Funkhouser, County Chair for the Brazoria County Democratic Party.

How did you get started in politics? Did you come to it in your youth or later on?

Actually, my grandfather was a local politician in Indiana. Some of my earliest memories are me handing out literature for him during his elections. He held several local positions like city council, for example.

What would you say are the primary issues concerning Brazoria County?

I think we have the regular issues everyone has, like health care, education and high property taxes. We have additional concerns like the environment and pollution.

The transportation infrastructure is an issue also. We are growing faster than our infrastructure is able to accommodate.

Do you have any ambition for higher office? Do you have plans to run for any other party office, or possibly even public office?

No, I don’t have any other plans to run.

Who are some of your political heroes?

John F. Kennedy, Barbara Jordan, and Eleanor Roosevelt are heroes of mine. As a child, I remember respecting that Eleanor Roosevelt had a role other than staying at home cooking or sewing. That was the first thing I noticed about her.

Kennedy was during the youth movement in the 1960s. He was much younger than other figures at the time.

I remember Jordan’s keynote speech at the 1976 Democratic National Convention, it was unforgettable.

What advice would you give to young people just getting into politics?

It’s so easy to get caught up in the money. Younger people are told it will cost $100,000 to run a campaign and so the good people aren’t running. Be true to yourself, and try to make it without all the money.

If you start at a local level, it’s not very expensive. Start locally and see if you can make a difference.

What has been the most valuable lesson you’ve learned in politics?

As I notice right now, so much of everything is so partisan. It seems like there was a time we could reach across the line and get stuff done.

In the 1960s, after Kennedy’s assassination, people could work together and pass legislation. The same happened after 9/11. It’s a shame it takes tragedies to make us work together. There should be a common bond there to work together.

Learn from the past times we have accomplished things and work together. It’s difficult to do.