Thank you for agreeing to answer a few questions for my book on representation. This should not take more than fifteen minutes of your time. Of course, there are no right or wrong answers. I am only interested in what you think about your role as a legislator. You may choose not to answer a question if you feel uncomfortable doing so. Your answers will be used in my book. I would like to be able to quote you in my book, but if there are answers that you would like to be held in confidence, please let me know immediately before or after your statement. If you wish to complete this interview anonymously, let me know now.

1. Do you recall when and how you first became involved in elective politics?

2. What was the first office you were elected to? When were you first elected?

3. Did you run for any other office before you became a (current position)?

4. For your current seat, how many times did you run before your first election?

5. Did you defeat an incumbent or win in an open seat contest?

6. What was the name of the individual you defeated? Primary or general?

7. Tell me more about the competitiveness of your district. Do you draw serious challenges every two or four years, or are you in what you consider a safe district? What have been the margins of victory in recent elections?

8. If you have had primary opponents, what kinds of candidates have they been? What about general election opponents? Probe ethnicity, ideology, policy positions.

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