Sundre's council ó as well as all other municipal councils throughout Alberta ó is nearing the end of its three-year term as the fall election looms on the horizon.
But the next few months will likely pass by in a proverbial blink of an eye, and before we know it, voters will for the first time ever be faced with choosing their representatives for the next four years.
Others might perhaps even decide to run as candidates with the hope of contributing back to their town.
"It is incredibly rewarding work," said Mayor Terry Leslie.
However, sitting as an elected member of council requires not only commitment to the community but also a willingness to learn and understand all angles of any particular issue before prematurely coming to a conclusion, he said.
"You seek first to understand, then to be understood," said the mayor, quoting Stephen Covey, author of Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.
Even then, the best course of action is not always obvious while grievances are a dime a dozen.
"Complaints are irrelevant and solutions are elusive," he said.
Additionally, resolving problems or completing projects involves far more than simply attending council meetings and workshops. Elected officials must also put plenty of time in reading over background information as well as attend numerous board and committee meetings.
But there is nothing quite like being involved in helping to make decisions that will have an impact on the community for generations to come, the mayor said.
"You get to touch the future."
Leslie also encourages anyone who plans to run for council to consider committing to two terms at least. The first term is largely spent learning and understanding the role and function of a councillor, setting the stage for a greater potential to accomplish goals during the second as well as any subsequent term, he said.
Cautioning against political indifference, the mayor said apathy creates a caretaker government and if people don't participate, they'll simply get what they show up for.
"It's really important for the community to make some decisions about what they feel are the issues," said Leslie.
Residents who are not in a position to commit to running for council should at least invest some time in getting to know the candidates who are running, he said.
"Get prepared to ask really tough questions. Anybody can say, ëI'm going to reduce taxes.' But how are you going to do that? If anybody tells you they have a magic solution, run in the opposite direction."
He's not wrong ó as the old saying goes, if something seems too good to be true, it usually is.
So although the fall election might for now seem a distant concern as we find ourselves still waiting for spring to actually start, anyone thinking about running should seriously consider getting familiar with the issues sooner rather than later.
ó Simon Ducatel, Round Up editor
