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