APMA News - July/August 2018 - 21

Dr. Ray
Candidate for South Carolina House of Representatives
Kevin Ray, DPM, is a candidate in the Democratic primary
for the South Carolina House of Representatives, District 95. He
identified awareness of podiatry as one of his goals in running
for office on the heels of his state's recent ankle privilege victory,

Podiatrists who hold political
office help shape the perception
of the profession among other
legislators and the public. A seat
at the legislative table also is an
opportunity to propose legislation
that would eliminate archaic
laws that hold podiatrists back.
which reversed a 40-year-old law. The victory increased podiatrists' visibility in his state, Dr. Ray said. It "forced the medical
and public sectors to become knowledgeable about who we
are," he said.
Dr. Ray said he is running in "Small Town America" and believes the government often overlooks these communities when
it comes to education, local government, and jobs. "I want to be
a voice for the voiceless," he said. "I believe it is our civic duty to
hold our elected officials accountable. Running [for office], if
they are not performing, is essential to that."

care. I shared their concerns with what may lie ahead for
health care."
Ask for help and be open to feedback. "I had friends come
to my home and listen to my 30-second, three-minute, and
five-minute stump speeches," said Dr. Hilkemann. He listened to their critiques and revised his speeches accordingly.
When in doubt, out-work the competition. Dr. Hilkemann
led a fierce and dedicated door-to-door campaign in his first
election, and it paid off. "I received the most votes during the
primary. The candidate everyone thought would win finished
in fourth place. When he and I met after the race, he said,
'You out-worked me.'"
APMA encourages podiatrists considering a campaign to
contact us. If you are running for office or currently hold a position in your state government, let APMA know. We are ready
to help those who are willing to take their advocacy to the next
level by serving their communities. Visit APMA.org and check
out the Center for Professional Advocacy (www.apma.org/cpa),
Resources for Policymakers (www.apma.org/policymakers),
Model Laws (www.apma.org/modellaws), and much more in
the "State Advocacy" section.
If you're not ready to hit the campaign trail, be sure to
support your fellow podiatrists running for office, as well as
legislation that supports the profession. The compound effect
of more voices at all levels of government means greater recognition of podiatrists' education, training, and experience. n

Considering a Run?
Podiatrists who hold political office help shape the perception of the profession among other legislators and the public.
A seat at the legislative table also is an opportunity to propose
legislation that would eliminate archaic laws that hold podiatrists back.
If you're thinking of running for office at any level, our candidates advise that you first consider the cost. Dr. HiIkemann
advises, for starters, to ensure your financial house is in order.
All three candidates credit their fellow podiatrists with generous
donations. If your state association has a PAC, work closely with
that organization. The Michigan Political Action Society helped
connect Dr. Potchynok-Lund with a professional photographer
for campaign materials and featured her campaign in a Michigan
Podiatric Medical Association Podiatric Proﬁles article.
Once you've tackled finances, be sure you understand the
issues. Dr. Hilkemann remembers that his first run for office
took place soon after the passage of the ACA. "People were
concerned with what was going to happen to their health

Did You Know
you can find practice
survey data online?
Visit www.apma.org/services
for details.
APMA News July/August 2018

http://www.APMA.org http://www.apma.org/cpa http://www.apma.org/policymakers http://www.apma.org/modellaws http://www.apma.org/services

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of APMA News - July/August 2018