Vigilance is the price of an open, fair, and effective city government run by the people and for the people. The place to begin is to talk with friends, neighbors, and other citizens and encourage good candidates to run for office.

Don’t underestimate yourself, family members, or neighbors in terms of serving as an elected official. About all a candidate needs is a basic sense of fairness; a commitment to democratic principles; good communication skills, including the wisdom to listen to people who differ; the ability to draw on your life and work experience and apply what you have learned to the business of the city; the willingness to do some homework; the courage to speak your convictions; and the ability to get to meetings on time or the decency to let people know when you will be absent.

We also think it is good to have a regular turnover at the council table. It’s a great place for ordinary people to take a turn at leadership then step down and let new people take up the baton. The mayoral term lasts for two years. A council member’s term lasts for four years. The key role of the mayor is to be a fair moderator. State law vests the council (not the mayor) with the authority to make the decisions about city government, and all it takes is a majority vote by three of the five council members to make something happen or keep something from happening. So go for it.