Local Elected Officials - The end of an Era
Copyright 2006 Al Arnold
We all know of at least one local elected official, who seems to
have been around forever. At some point in time that person
finally decides to retire. Their name will not be on the ballot.
One of those local icons was retiring this year from my County
Board.
This particular gentleman gave me one of my all time favorite
"keepsake" remarks. A "keepsake" remark is one of those
statements that you never forget. It is forever burned in your
memory.
This particular "keepsake" remark came during County Board
budget deliberations five years ago. I was attempting to remove
from the budget, all funds earmarked for the D.A.R.E. program. I
stated I was not opposed to drug education programs, I was just
opposed to this particular drug education program. I had read
the D.A.R.E. material when my son had gone through the program.
I stated I was opposed to D.A.R.E. because I believed that it
lied to the kids, about the effects of some drugs.
This local elected icon, the Chairman of the Law Enforcement
Committee, a long time Public Safety employee as a police
officer then Sheriff, stood to the floor, shook his finger at me
and loudly proclaimed, "Of course we lie to the kids, how else
are we going to get through to them?"
Five years, and I am still speechless. I was never able to come
up with a rebuttal. I still can't. How can you rebut that remark?
While my political career took a twist and I had to resign from
the County Board, this political icon became the new Chairman of
the County Board. This public servant held various elected
offices for 35 years.
I wonder how many other people he served with over those 35
years? How many "keepsake" remarks did he give to those people?
How many "keepsake" remarks has he heard?
How many other public servants across the country, have spent
the past 30 plus years, putting their name on the ballot every
two years, sometimes serving on multiple local boards
simultaneously? How many of those "races" were un-opposed? But,
most of all, what drives someone to serve for 35 years of low
pay, phone calls at home at all times of the day, interruptions
at a restaurant dinner with your spouse and harassment in bars?
The next time I saw him, I was going to ask him some of these
questions. But, shortly after announcing he would no longer run
for office, he died of a sudden heart attack.
When you see your local political icon, ask them these questions
before it is too late. I bet you will enjoy their answers. They
might even give you a "keepsake" remark. They are all very, very
interesting characters.
Ole! Thanks for the memories.