CULLMAN —
Qualifying for candidates to seek municipal office passed without too many surprises.
Some of the races are already decided because few people stepped forward to challenge incumbents.
What does that mean? Complacency? Confidence in the incumbents?
Probably all of the above.
Serving as a mayor or city council member requires the commitment of a great deal of personal time, learning about issues, and patience. For some officeholders, the phone rings often as constituents complain and lobby for one thing or another. Sound fun?
The more seasoned officeholders in the area are well aware of what comes with the voters’ approval. Winning elected office in some cases is a popularity contest, but it’s also a mandate to secure a community’s future.
Voters are ultimately expressing their confidence that a chosen candidate is capable of being a good steward of tax dollars and public services. They want open meetings and honest reports on the state of the community. And they want an environment that is primed for growth and established a future for the next generation.
Those who will take office after the August elections are settled should also understand that remaining in voters’ favor is not a simple task. The honeymoon ends shortly after it starts. Even the wisdom of Solomon can do little to appease the voting public.
As contentious as it may seem, holding office is accomplished one day at a time. But that’s the way of governments in America. Voters have the right to choose or refuse an incumbent or challenger. Whoever wins office quickly falls into a fishbowl for all to observe.
There is no better way to run government. As the elections approach, candidates should be mindful that the most important decisions made on city and town councils are not about protecting or building institutions. Every decision made by a town or city council should be about the welfare of the people, because they are the community and the authors of every dollar appropriated by government.
Editorials
Serving in office is about people, not institutions
- Editorials
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Taking the lead in education
The once-heralded ‘No Child Left Behind” education initiative from the federal level has just about run out of gas.
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Moving into the future
Hundreds of local high school seniors are accepting their diplomas and preparing to turn the page in the next chapter of their lives.
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Editorial: Seizure of AP phone records insult to independent press
This amounts to spying on an American news organization -- common practice in dictatorships but scary conduct in a democratic system that prizes the public value of an independent watchdog press.
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EDITORIAL: The IRS' Turn to Answer Questions
Washington is now sinking its teeth into a real scandal: the Internal Revenue Service using ideological criteria to choose the targets of its attention.
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Editorial: The house of death
The grisly details emerging from the murder trial of a Philadelphia abortion doctor place a glaring spotlight on a national disgrace.
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Editorial: Murder, insanity and guns
James Holmes, the accused movie theater shooter in Colorado, would like for the public to believe he killed a dozen people because he was insane.
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Lasting partnerships
Economic development officials have long noted the importance of expansions by existing industries and businesses in a community to lead growth.
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COMMENTARY: Why does young adult fiction keep giving its heroines makeovers?
Over at This Ain't Living, s.e. smith (who, full disclosure, has guest-blogged for me at ThinkProgress) has an excellent post about one of the most pernicious trends in young adult fiction.
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A spirit for moving forward
This weekend marked the two-year anniversary of a deadly day of tornadoes that streaked across Alabama, claiming lives and property and changing the landscape of many communities.
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Faith and bombs
The investigation of the Boston Marathon bombing is pointing to the all-too-familiar theme of religious faith playing a major role in violence.
- More Editorials Headlines
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Taking the lead in education
Sheriff: No Sign Killing of 2 Kids Was Planned
Obama Defends Drone Strikes, With Limits
Raw: Jurors Deadlock on Jodi Arias Penalty
Boy Scouts Decision "First Step" Say Activists
Raw: Utah Teen Arrested in Death of His Brothers
Closer Look at Okla. School Where Children Died
Two Suspects in Murder Known to London Police
Boy Scouts Mom Supports Gay Inclusiveness
"Be Ready": NOAA Warns of Busy Hurricane Season
SeaWorld: Penguins Are Coolest Thing in Florida
Obama Renews Call to Close Gitmo
Obama Offers Drone Strike Defense
Raw: Heckler Interrupts Obama on Guantanamo
A Slice of Apple History Up for Grabs
