Dear Boonville: In city government, there are a number of familiar faces.
You’ll recognize Boonville Mayor Julie Thacher, for example, as a former longtime City Council member.
You’ll also recognize First Ward Councilman Glenwood Einspahr, Second Ward Councilman Henry Hurt, Third Ward Councilman Pete Soener and Fourth Ward Councilman Mark Livingston, all of whom recently were re-elected to their respective council seats.
For those of you who don’t follow politics very closely, that means these four Boonville residents served as council representatives and then got asked back by voters for a second term at the table.
(Second Ward Councilman Jim Painter is also back at his seat after losing in the mayoral race to Thacher.)
The same is true for the Boonville School Board. Voters used their ballots April 6 to ask Brenda Campbell and Jeff Lammers to return for another term.
All of the people I’ve just mentioned — and a number of others I haven’t — are to be commended, by the way.
Being in the public eye, I would gather, isn’t always roses and butterflies.
When you make decisions in public, you open yourself to scrutiny and questions, not to mention constituents’ hopes, fears and gripes.
And you’re well aware that they also take time out of their days, often many days in the same week, to talk with the media.
What’s more, these people have to participate in regular meetings, field inquiries from residents in the community and be accountable for their decisions, which can affect many people.
There are a number of people in Boonville — and I’d guess in other mid-Missouri communities — who have been in politics for years. That’s not a value judgment. It’s simply a fact. Elections let us pick our leaders. For the rest of the time, we get to work with them to find solutions. They may not be the people we would have elected to those positions, but respect is due them for the titles they hold and the work they give for little in return.
Second, it’s OK to ask questions of these people. They ran for those offices to represent you. They’ve agreed to learn about the issues and to make the decisions they think best reflect the needs of their constituents. If an elected official’s decision bugs you, say so.
But (third), please be constructive. These officials are human, have lives outside of their official business and unable to extend the length of a day.
Stay committed to your community and ask the questions about issues that matter to you, all while making sure to be courteous and grateful for their time.
It might do us all a world (or a community) of good.
Contact news and online editor Nate Birt by calling 882-5335 or e-mailing nate@boonvilledailynews.com.
