Recently, there has been more interest and observation of some parts of local government by active citizens, on topics ranging from the animal shelter to biomass to education to farmers markets to fast food vs. neighborhoods to private prisons to the Quitman 10 to solar power to T-SPLOST, all in aid of transparency. Engaging elected and appointed officials in dialog about the concerns and best interests of the community has been challenging. Yet we can see the sun a little clearer through the smoke.

Ensuring that people who will engage in dialog and seek the benefit of the entire community are appointed to boards lies in the hands of the elected officials. Electing people who engage in dialog and seek the benefit of the entire community raises the likelihood that elected officials will appoint to boards people who want dialog. Also, citizens must volunteer to participate on boards and authorities, making time in their schedules to voluntarily make our community better through transparent participation.

This is a municipal election year, so many such seats on local municipal councils, such as the Valdosta City Council, are up for election this year. Here’s a list of every seat up for election. If you live in one of the local municipalities (Hahira, Dasher, Lake Park, Remerton, or Valdosta), consider running. If you don’t want to run, find out who is, and find out what their track record is, what they say they will do, and if they care what the community thinks. And don’t forget the Valdosta school board.

Lowndes school board elections are next year, along with County Commission (including two new seats and the chair), sheriff, judges, tax assessors, and tax collector. It’s not too early to be thinking about who should run.

No matter who is appointed or elected, let’s watch them and keep track of what they do.

Help yourself by helping us keep the owl flying.

-Carolyn, Gretchen, and jsq for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange

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