TORRENS TALK

The week of June 1-5 is the time to file for office for positions on the governing boards of local junior taxing districts. These districts comprise such entities as fire districts, school districts, water districts, sewer districts and more. People who live within the boundaries of a particular district and are registered voters are allowed to run for these offices.

Sadly, very few do. And, that is what I wish to address in this column. Serving as an elected official on a local board can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your lifetime. I know because I am one. I sit on the North Kitsap School Board of Directors. It is a position I filed for two years ago and that December I was sworn in.

Since being sworn in, I have had many people ask me if I think I made the right decision. I always answer “yes.” While I had my doubts about what I was getting into, those no longer exist. I absolutely do not regret signing on the dotted line that put my name on a ballot and made me a school board director. Serving on the board has been one of the best decisions of my life.

If it were not for this position, I would not have had the opportunity to meet and come to know so many people who care so deeply for the youth of our district. Regardless of the side of an issue someone may be on, the bottom line for everyone is what will serve our students best. And, while the ways to get there may differ, there is no disputing that educating our children is of paramount importance.

I know other elected officials who serve in different types of districts and their experience is similar. Being able to serve one’s community in a very meaningful way cannot be beat.

Sure, there are times when one wonders why they made the decision to do so in the first place, but there is no job or any part of life where one does not feel that way at one time or another. It is what one gets out of the experience over the long haul that is telling. And, those who serve in local positions find the positives outweigh the negatives by quite a lot.

Regardless of the type of district you wish to serve, if elected, you become part of a small group of individuals. It is not just you, by yourself, choosing the direction to go. That can be a challenge for those who are used to making the decision without anyone else’s input. But, figuring out how to move forward together and on behalf of the best interests of the entity you lead can be rewarding in and of itself.

Dealing with contentious issues can be difficult. One need only look at some of the uproar that makes the papers or television when boards and/or communities disagree on the direction for said district to take. While there are certainly people who can be unpleasant in such matters, overall most people are open and willing to listen and work toward a mutually agreeable solution. Again, getting to and reaching that point is a fulfilling experience.

In a little more than a week from now, people throughout Kitsap County will have the opportunity to step up and help their community. Do not let this pass you by. You will gain far more than what you give. You will learn a lot and be the better for it.

If you think government is out of touch, here is your chance to do something about it. If you think government wastes taxpayers’ monies, here is your chance to change that. If you think your government should go in a different direction, here is your chance to influence a new course.

Regardless of your reason, do not continue to sit on the sidelines. File for office and get involved. It is our community, after all.

Val Torrens appears in the CK Reporter the second and fourth Friday of every month.