Serve your town

As August moves ever so quickly into September, there are a variety of things that might be on people's minds. School will soon be reopening for students. Summer holidays are cluing up for many.

This year is an election year for municipal politics in Newfoundland and Labrador, and chances are nominations will soon be wrapping up in your community.

A town council represents one of the most direct and immediate avenues for creating change in a community. Its members, unlike provincial and federal government representatives, have a constant presence in the community, have a chance to react quickly to what goes on around them, and have the potential to take care of serious problems within a community.

At times, it may seem like a slog of a job having to go through lengthy committee reports, wade through endless debates, and try to have a voice heard in a group of opinionated personalities. But ultimately, it is all done with a town's best interests in mind.

Residents looking at council from the outside may sometimes express displeasure at decisions made, or become frustrated over perceived inaction on an issue of importance to that individual. They might voice this frustration in a letter to council, a phone call to an open-line radio program, or in a letter to The Beacon.

Well, being the time of year it is, those folks now have another option to consider - why not run for council?

Undoubtedly, there is no better way to have your voice heard on local matters than to offer yourself up for a position as a councillor or mayor. Even if your experience may dwarf in comparison to those running for re-election, there are options. By going door-to-door, a candidate can express their passion for the community on an individual basis and make solid connections that may prove fruitful come election day.

Additionally, one's profile may in fact be higher than one might initially expect. In small towns, the old adage that everyone knows everyone holds a lot of truth, so you might find yourself with more visibility amongst the public than initially anticipated.

One simple question to ask yourself before considering running for municipal office is this: Am I committed to strengthening my town and working with the best interests of my fellow residents at heart?

If the answer is yes, than why not put yourself out there for the public's consideration on Sept. 29, 2009.

Even if your bid for office proves unsuccessful, you can feel good in knowing you made an effort in contributing to a democratic process that, ideally, works for the betterment of all people in your community.