Recently our small town concluded a caucus to select candidates for the fall ballot. It was fun to watch local candidates speak about their passions and intentions while running for office. In a small town there is no PAC's, no anonymous donors, no polls, no politics really. Republican or Democrat, no on really cares at this level, because it is about the person and the job, not the politics.
This year the town has a clear path for November. The past or the future. There are three candidates for the council that each have 16 years of experience either past or present on the council and there are three candidates that are either novices or have just served one term. The town will choose whether they want to relive the past or venture into the future.
The reason for my take on this all? I am in the last few months of my stint on the council. Town council positions are like congress, not term limited. That is why there are so many repeat performers on this year's ballot. I chose not to run, not because I don't think I can still serve, or that I am burnt out, but because I believe that in order to move forward, leadership has to change. You have to let each generation's leaders grow, develop and put their ideas forward. Even in a small town.
I want to say that I am a firm believer that public service should be just that... service. Not to oneself, but to the community at large. Many have forgotten this. Not only at home, but in Washington. When colleges began to offer political degrees and congressmen and senators began to serve lifetimes in office, it became more about self and less about others.
As our founding fathers would say, political service is the greatest sacrifice that a person could undertake. You should not profit from your service. There should be no benefits other than knowing that what you did was for the good of all. There is no need for retirement package. No need for fancy perks, special parking spaces, jets or other things that do not involve the business of the people.
Recently, I became aware of the issue of image even in our small town. One of our candidates recently promoted the need for a new fire truck and the need to issue city bonds to purchase it. But when it came time to sign the petition for the bond issue, his comment to the petition person was to see him last because he did not want anyone to see his name on the petition as it might hurt his chances in the election. This comment seriously disappointed me. This person has always been involved in the city either by volunteer or by election over the years, and I now find out that everything is done by calculation for control and power. A very disappointing revelation.
So, I guess as much as I thought that small town politics were not about power and control but about service, I guess I am wrong and disappointed in the future for our town and our country.
Well said!
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