Do you care? Then sign up
Matt Pearl
I went back and read what I wrote last week: essentially it was a pretty scathing group of paragraphs about the imperfections of the individuals vying for the U.S. Presidency. This week, perhaps our thoughts would be better turned to local issues.
We have some significant races this coming spring and fall, and it behooves each of us to pay attention to the offices to be decided in local elections.
You’ll see mayoral and city council seats up for grabs, for one thing. It’s an important reminder that each of us needs to take to heart: the actions taken by your local city governments can (and often do) hold profoundly more influence upon your immediate lives than those taken by the President and Congress.
Small town citizens forget thateven though our communities are not heavy on population, they still constantly face big, important issues. Consider it every time you take a sip of clean drinking water. Remember it when you walk safely on a public sidewalk. These things don’t just happen — we rely upon elected officials and city employees for them.
The same is true countywide. We include the Gentry and DeKalb County Commission reports in our paper as often as we can get them, because we feel it is important for citizens to know what the county leaders are doing, and how their actions benefit the individual municipalities.
You’ll see school board seats up for election in our local towns. The philosophy that drives folks to run for school board sometimes frustrates me: many folks hold a misconception that only people with kids in school should run. That’s ridiculous.
In my experience, I have seen people serve productively without having school-aged children, due in part to their being more objective. Most of our local school boards are made up of individuals with children in school, and they do a fine job of making decisions that are good for everyone — but I’m sure it’s tough to separate the fondness we hold for our children from our elected responsibilities. It’s why a good board often has a representative or two not the parent of a school-aged child.
We certainly have more major offices up for grabs in the August primaries, but I challenge each of you — and I challenge myself — not to overlook the importance of the local elections and the long-lasting impact they will have on our little towns.
Since I don’t wish to become repetitive, I’ll refrain from giving you the small “community pride” argument, but suffice it to say I believe in the importance of we who enjoy the benefits of rural living taking on roles of stewardship for our local communities.
If you’re upset about an issue, my advice is that you do noy, but perhaps you attend council meetings and seek to understand how the laws and ordinances work.
If you have the desire to maintain and improve the community that you call your home, then you might just be the right person to serve on a town council or as a mayor.
The same applies to county and school board offices: if you are planning a vengeance campaign because you have an axe to grind, just stay home. If you want to serve because you care, then sign up.
Matt Pearl is the owner and publisher of the Tri-County News in King City and the Albany Ledger.
