Future Is There For The Shaping
The room where Spokane City Council members meet offers a poetry-inspiring view of the Spokane River falls. But a curtain hides the view most of the time. And council chairs face away from theview. After their work is done, council members can open that curtain and gaze at the view, look at the river that runs through the city they lead. But mostly, they do their hard work away from the beauty.
The drape-covered picture window provides an apt metaphor for public service. The work is hard and the beauty of the work often is hidden from immediate view.
Aug. 1 is the filing deadline for men and women interested in running for Spokane City Council. Three council seats, plus the mayor’s spot, are up for grabs.
Now is the time for intelligent, hard-working, visionary men and women to step forward and file for office. The hours are long. The pay for the part-time job that feels like a full-time job isn’t the greatest. Some of the meetings are downright boring.
But the work is important. The city of Spokane is at an important crossroads. Downtown redevelopment plans are in the works. Burgeoning neighborhood groups will offer the council helpful feedback. Meeting state Growth Management Act requirements will determine the quality of life for generations to come. Council members elected this fall will have a direct hand in determining Spokane’s future. If you feel your skills match the job, consider running.
Other municipalities also need candidates. These include Deer Park, Fairfield, Latah, Medical Lake, Millwood, Rockford, Spangle, Waverly, Airway Heights and Cheney.
Several Spokane area school boards also are looking for candidates. Spokane’s District 81 board of directors has two openings. Eight board positions are open in the three Valley districts. The filing period for board positions runs from Monday to Aug. 1.
Like the city of Spokane, schools also face some fascinating challenges - the changing roles of teachers and schools in society, diversity issues and working with home schoolers.
Midlife is often when men and women ask what it all means. Maybe the kids are grown and gone. Maybe the career has lost its luster. Giving back to your community through public service can recharge the heart and mind. Try it, whether young, old or of middle age.
The thank-yous from people you serve in public office might be slow in coming. But gratitude will be there in the vibrant neighborhoods of Spokane and in classrooms alive with learning.
, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Rebecca Nappi For the editorial board