Between mayor duties and family responsibilities, I won't have much space for hobbies these next few years. I can tell you, what limited time I do have will be spent reading!
I've been especially interested in presidential biographies since my teen years; with presidential leadership, you can learn about not just their decisions and thought processes but the historical context in which their decisions were made. Looking critically at Washington, Adams, Jackson, Lincoln, Kennedy, Reagan, etc. etc.,,, what aspects of their leadership style and decisionmaking do I admire and would want to emulate? What character flaws would I want to avoid? How would I react to the times in which the presidents found themselves as leaders? No matter the political party, there's a wealth of insight to gain.
There certainly are other figures from history worthy of study, but as a public servant, the presidents are most instructive for me. Why? Because they made (or failed to make) tough calls. Their decisions were second-guessed and criticized. They faced public ridicule and hatred (Lincoln was especially loathed in some quarters). Even George Washington, a demi-god today, was eviscerated by the press in his day.
These examples from far-off Washington D.C. can help local leaders across the country to better understand their own temperaments and motivations....and human nature in general, as it relates to politics. And as some of us in Cedar Falls seek to serve others through elected office, we must take advantage of the wisdom available to us through 250+ years of American history. Only with this perspective and personal study can we hope to make thoughtful and judicious decisions for our fellow residents.
I'd be leery of voting for someone who wasn't an avid reader and a lifelong student. So, if you're running for office and stop at my door, you can expect that I'll ask -- "What have you recently read, and what did you learn?" I hope other residents will ask the same!