They get brickbats and they get backslaps, but generally more of the former than the latter.
We're talking about politicians, those people who put themselves forward to serve voters and stand up for what they believe.
For a long time the political landscape in Shropshire was straightforward - Tory MPs in all parts, with the exception of The Wrekin, which swung this way and that. In the modern era that pattern has been broken, and it's all to play for.
Over the years there have been big personalities, controversial personalities, and Shropshire MPs with notable long service.
Join us in remembering some of those who lit up the political stage in past times.
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9. Drawing the crowds
We should not forget that elections involve the families as well as the candidates. This photo was in a Stanier family album with the caption: "Welcome from Market Drayton, May 15, 08. In the window of the Corbet Arms hotel upper right are B.S., C.S., Alex." That will be Beville Stanier, the successful Unionist (that is, Conservative) candidate, his wife Connie, and their son Alex, who lived at Peplow Hall. The occasion was a 1908 by election for the Newport seat, following the death of the sitting MP. Sir Beville, as he became, was later Ludlow MP. He died in 1921. | Sir Beville Stanier
10. Liberals take up Ludlow fight for first time in 15 years
An obviously important part of the process in fighting an election is when political parties adopt their chosen candidate. For the Ludlow by election which was held in November 1960 the Liberals' choice was Dai Rees. He was the first Liberal candidate to fight the seat for 15 years and is here, centre, with his wife holding a bouquet at Ludlow Town Hall where the well-attended adoption meeting was held. Left is Mr F J Reeves, President of Ludlow and District Liberal Association who was chairman when a Liberal had last fought at Ludlow. Rees did not take the seat, being a distant second to the Tories' Jasper More. | Shropshire Star archive
11. Another forward step for Beville
"Conqueror again. Declaration of The Poll at Shrewsbury, Jan 1910. Majority 1,246." We're dipping into the Stanier family album again, and the Conservative candidate Beville Stanier is this time standing rather precariously on the balcony of Shrewsbury Music Hall. He had beaten Mr W E Mousdale of the Liberals to be re-elected as Newport MP in the 1910 general election. This is the same seat he had originally won in that 1908 by election. | Sir Beville Stanier
12. Derek Conway, who became a champion for cats
Conservative Derek Conway celebrates victory with wife Colette on June 10, 1983, after being elected MP for Shrewsbury for the first time. He was Shrewsbury and Atcham's Conservative MP for 14 years but lost his seat in the great Labour landslide in 1997. The result caused shockwaves because Labour had never before won the seat. After leaving politics Mr Conway became the national chief executive of the Cats Protection League. | Shropshire Star