Run only if you have something to say that you think will make a difference, know it cold, and you are doing this to give it more press. If you do it well, you will gain respect in your community. That's a grand step in anyone's life. But it needs to be about beef, not ego.
Exactly. Also, if you don't have time to really devote yourself to the cause, don't do it. There's no point to investing time into a write-in campaign unless you're going to go all out to promote your cause. In that case, it's just a waste of your time that you could spend doing on something meaningful.
True, but if you are serious about making a run in the future a short campaign might get some attention from some of the regular politicos in the area. If so, that could translate to support in the future.