Four Questions For Would-Be Congressmen Minter

Former Panthers’ safety Mike Minter wants to be a congressmen, maybe.

After a two day trip to DC, Minter recently confided to the Charlotte Observer that he’d decide in the coming weeks whether to take on Larry Kissell for the Eighth District seat in NC.

If he were to run, he wouldn’t be the first former NFL-er to try his hand at politics. The late Jack Kemp did it, quite successfully too.

But, Kemp was also a bit more, well, vocal. He was also a bit more politically active before throwing his hat in the congressional pool. Not that it matters.

See, the seat Minter would be after happens to land in mill country.

True, most of the bobbins are gone and the spools have stopped spinning, but the mindset is roughly the same. And the land of cotton, yarn, and towels has its own special list of qualifications.

So, if he’s serious, here are a few questions he should ask himself.

What are you willing to give up?

Minter is a seriously busy man. He's a husband. He's a father. He owns several businesses including a magazine and a child learning center. He coaches high school football. He's a Deacon at his church. He's even giving acting a shot.

He has his hands in a lot of things. If he were to run, he'd be expected to let some things go.

Why not mayor?

According to the Observer, Minter says, "my thing right now is trying to find the best way I can help people achieve what they need to achieve."

If this is his main reason for wanting to run, he should consider the fact that the city he lives in—Kannapolis—could benefit from an infusion of new blood and direction.

Even with the North Carolina Research Campus being built, there is work to be done that may well be beyond the current city council's ability to do.

Have you ever been to Raeford?

Cabarrus County is a half-breed. It's proximity to Charlotte has tainted its small town roots.

By the time Pillowtex ceased operation, Cabarrus County was considered to be more cotton-assisted than cotton-based by its peers.

If he wants to run, he should consider a trip to Hoke County along with his trips to D.C..

Is it just a game?

Okay. Trick question.

But, is he running because he thinks he can do a better job than Larry Kissell or because he wants to see if he can win?