'Tis the Season to Run for Elected Office

For most folks, this is the holiday season. For local government, this is the season when candidates indicate their interest in running for a Common Council seat.

Sound interesting? Local government (and essentially democracy) relies on residents who are willing to come forward and invest time and energy in making decisions on behalf of their neighbors. It isn’t always easy, but it is often very rewarding.

So, what makes a good Common Council member? It isn’t necessarily about experience, although if you have served on a City board or commission that is helpful. Individuals frequently come into office with no direct experience. As staff, it is part of our job to bring new members up to speed.

According to Julia Novak, President of The Novak Consulting Group, and John Nalbandian, Professor Emeritus at the University of Kansas School of Public Affairs and Administration, the ideal governing body member has ten qualities:

1. Community: Uses their office to convene conversations that matter and recognizes that a primary role is to build, maintain and preserve community.
2. Brand: Protects and enhances the value of the brand of their community at all times.
3. Majority: Understands that their most important constituents are other members of the governing body – nothing gets done without a majority.

   • Focuses their energy on doing things as a governing body.
   • Recognizes that compromise and negotiation are the tools of the political craft.
   • Seeks to bring their colleagues into the majority, even when another vote is not needed.

4. Unique Power: Understands that they (the governing body) have the power to do things that no one else in the community can do.
5. No Right Answers: Understands the inherent values conflict at play when making decisions AND respects that there are no absolutes—no “right” answers (even theirs).
6. Dual Role: Is aware and respectful of the different roles they play and understand they serve as both a representative of constituencies and a trustee of the public good.
7. Respect: Understands that respect can be earned by:

   • Speaking on issues only when they have new insights that further debate and understanding;
   • Asking genuine questions of others; and by
   • Exercising their strengths in a way that others value.

8. Partnership: Respects and values the partnership between the governing body and their appointed staff.
9. Acceptable and Sustainable: Understands that what can be done must be both politically acceptable AND administratively sustainable.
10. Outcome-Focused: Is adept at creating useful policy goals and boundaries that allow professional staff flexibility in achieving outcomes.

Some people might be surprised that this list is more about personal qualities and understanding the role, rather than specific knowledge of things like zoning, municipal finance or tax increment districts.  I think the “experts” know that governing boards work best when their members have a variety of backgrounds and knowledge, but share a common interest in working effectively together.

If you are interesting considering running for office, I would encourage you to talk with current Common Council members about their experience. Click here for their contact information. I would also suggest getting in touch with the City Clerk, Jan Martin. Jan can walk you through the entire process. You can find important forms here. City staff, myself included, are also happy to answer questions. The deadline to submit candidacy papers is January 2nd.