Site by Old Town Media, Inc. Join Today! Member Directory! Member login! In contrast to that are a half-dozen things we want to see in City Council candidates: Honest. The key characteristic for an elected official is their honesty in both their actions and being intellectually honest with their approach to issues. A councilperson is a representative of all of the people, not a champion of a special interest group or a narrow perspective.
Philosophically a good candidate is one that brings a balanced view. Many who run or win do so on the merits of their ideas or because of the backing of the powers that be.
But the office is often not defined by a previous vision, but by accommodating the people you serve. Too often, those in political office seek to convince others of the value of their ideas or to corral them into their vision or even marginalize them and leave them behind. But an adept and successful elected official understands that the job is mainly about service — serving the people in the city that elected you in whatever capacity they see fit. And put simply, citizens are smart enough to know when they are being talked at rather than talked with.
If your vision is good, bring people along for the benefits to them right now — not in some magical future. If someone is rough in how they convey their thoughts, listen for the origin of their beliefs and try to address that.
Then bring them along if you can. Local political office is about communicating, getting people involved and finding a win for all — or rather most. Any time there is an incumbent not running for council, there is also a jostling for position. There will be time to talk about their attributes if and when they decide to run.
And being that this is San Mateo, there might also be others. My ask for this particular race is that the candidates read the room when it comes to this elected office. San Mateo has been through a lot recently, and there are likely more changes coming. They could be good, or bad. Anyone who wants to be on the council will have to be adroit when it comes to the job and recognize it is not about prior philosophy but rather public service to all.
Lim knows that. Yet, those issues are often sticky, especially around budget season, when needs and wants often collide. But the councilors have a failsafe when it comes to numbers -- the mayor. A city mayor generally acts as the head of the council and enforces its decrees. He or she also acts as the budget officer and the city's chief executive officer. He has the power to pass or veto any legislation the councilors put through, though those mayoral powers often come with strings attached.
With all of this in mind, politics within any government can be dicey, even when the councilors have the best interests at heart.
Says Manchester deputy city clerk Kathie Gardner, "It's impressive to watch the aldermen work People call them at home, on the weekend, they work here most nights in addition to their regular job. That's a lot of time, and they do it because they want to help the city. Being emotionally mature means staying engaged, welcoming dissent, and not over-reacting to it.
At times, it may mean coping with the intense emotions of others. Leadership means listening carefully to others with a desire to understand concerns, ideas, and perspectives.
Elected officials are expected to be accessible to the community through meetings and events, and by phone and email. Commitment to clear, diverse, and regular communication with the community is key.
Elected officials should consider how to best limit shifting a problem into the future by maintaining a long-term perspective and considering the potential impact of decisions.
Never underestimate the mental preparation required to make decisions about the long-term sustainability of a community. It is easy to believe that being an elected official means attending a few meetings a month; but, effective elected officials are committed to doing their homework.
They come prepared to participate in discussions by researching and reading background materials prior to attending meetings, sessions, committees, etc.
Policy makers need to understand basic financial information and be able to evaluate budgets and financial statements. If they do not, then they should be willing to seek training to improve their skills. They need to comprehend the long-term taxation and budget consequences of financial proposals and decisions.
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