"Of course, if you’re ideologically extreme, this does not sound like a problem: you want to take power."

But some boring centrist doesn't want to take power? Why are they taking the time and trouble to run for office then? Do they have their eyes on a higher office, and the school board or whatever position they have run for is just a step up to that? I'll take an ideologue over someone who is running because of their ego any day.