This study of incumbent British Columbia school board members prior to election analyzes relationships between individual members' feelings of political efficacy and trust and their decisions to seek or not seek reelection. The 60 subjects, from 24 districts, represented candidates (those members seeking reelection) and retirees (members not seeking reelection). Subjects' feelings, political experiences, and ambitions were explored in structured interviews. Tables of data and respondents' statements are presented. Conclusions include the following: (1) Members with feelings of high efficacy and trust are likely to be candidates for reelection. (2) Members with feelings of low efficacy and trust are likely to be retirees. These findings support and extend the findings of other studies reviewed for this investigation; however, the situation of incumbents must be seen to differ from that of aspirant candidates because incumbents have previous experience. Service in partisan, conflictual situations politicizes incumbents, and four types of "political gladiators" emerge. "Warriors" enjoy the political life and become the main source of candidates for re-election, whereas "the vanquished," the majority of retirees, leave the scene as defeated persons. Some, however (the "efficacious indifferents") choose to fight in new political fields, and others (the "exhausted deferentials") become tired and leave the task for others. Two pages of references are appended. (CJH)