Several years ago, three young men in Seattle thought it would be fun to streak a popular local restaurant. They pulled up in front of the diner, left their car running for a quick get-a-way, and proceeded to run inside. Once inside, they were stunned to see their car being driven away by a thief, along with their clothes. Their idea “of fun” yielded them unfortunate consequences.
When it comes to the role of a town’s councilperson, I’m often asked, “What does a councilperson do?” While a good question, a more important one is, “What are the qualities of a good candidate?” As it is with any leadership position, strong personal characteristics are essential. Among these should be:
*Character: This is the most important quality for any leader or public official. Character is vital for both personal conduct and decision making.
*Honesty: Tied to character is honesty. A candidate should be honest when speaking to the public. Equally important is listening honestly and considering all issues thoroughly before making any decisions.
*Motivation: Motivation can come from many sources, but as a public servant, the public interest should be primary. Those seeking election only to represent a special interest group or a personal agenda will struggle to perform their duties with integrity for the broader vision for Buckeye, both present and future.
*Balance: As a representative of their District and Town, as a whole, a council person should demonstrate a balanced approach. A good candidate will value public safety as well as sound fiscal management. A good candidate should think critically about issues. An effective elected official will be able to work well with the existing Town Staff, without automatically deferring to their judgement. Additionally, they will seek a healthy balance for their families and other work responsibilities.
*Commitment: Most Councilpersons have a full time job, as well as a family. In order to serve effectively, the candidate must demonstrate dedication to serving the public. Self discipline in the area of time management is essential to any good candidate. Preparation for meetings as well as community relations are also expected. The effective candidate will understand how to work within the tension of expectations and be able to balance various commitments.
Like the youth who discovered the painful truth that ideas have consequences, the elected Councilperson will have ideas. When considering who to vote for, be sure to consider the character of the candidate. Based on your evaluation you will be in a great place to answer all other questions. Not the least of which is, “Is this person electable?”
