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A commentary by Michael Shulman in Scotts Valley
Last week’s Press-Banner editorial encouraged community members who have strong opinions about local matters to consider running for public office or otherwise engaging in the process. I’d like to share a few thoughts on this topic.
In Scotts Valley, both the City Council and school district are caught up in some high profile, emotionally charged issues. The city is awaiting impact reports on the proposed Target store, with public hearings likely to begin fairly close to election day. One way or another, the Target decision will be made by this time next year. It’s important that council candidates, and those thinking about which council candidate(s) to support, don’t forget about the following three years. Governance of the city requires a steady, even-handed approach across a range of issues over an extended period of time. Yes, the Target decision is important (not just for the adjacent neighborhoods). But there are other issues, known and as yet unknown, that will require competent policy direction, open communications, and fair-minded decision-making in the years ahead.
The school board is dealing with the aftermath of a failed facilities-bond election, ongoing tensions with the teachers union and a superintendent who draws an abundance of negative public attention. Board candidates should consider doing more than just giving their opinion of who was "right" and who was "wrong". They should demonstrate an ability to understand both sides and talk about the underlying dynamics that are fueling the disagreements. They should commit to managing disagreements in a civil manner and to working collaboratively on issues with all those who have a stake in the outcome. We will need board members with such skills and attributes to get past the strife and find sustainable solutions. That, in turn, will allow the district to retain its focus on providing an optimal education for our students.
The election season isn’t just about the candidates, however. Everyone in the community needs to recognize the consequences of sniping at local public officials. These are our neighbors who have stepped forward to offer their time and energy to try and help us face our shared challenges. They are not evil, corrupt or excessively foolish, and while it seems like good sport to charge them as such, it has a corrosive effect on who might be willing to take on these roles. These jobs don’t pay much (if anything), and the celebrity status has far more stress than it has reward. If we want quality candidates, we have to make a better effort to make the job at least seem attractive.
We really don’t want elected officials with an overly thick skin. We want elected officials who are sensitive to the needs of residents and local businesses. We want them to be cautious with their decisions and to care about the impacts those decisions have. If they need to make a decision that is unpopular with some members of the community, we want them to do everything possible to minimize the adverse impacts. To get such candidates, we need them to believe that the community will treat them with the same civility and respect with which we expect them to treat us.
We can start by reducing the nastiness in letters to the editor and in anonymous postings to Web-based news stories. A point of opposition can be made without vilifying the opposition. If you disagree with this notion of civil public discourse, we can have a public conversation about how we can best converse with one another. That could be time very well spent.
Michael Shulman is a Scotts Valley planning commissioner and was chairman of the Yes on Measure Q school bond campaign.
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I too would like to see great candidates step up and I agree it certainly not for the money which is zero. But some positions are not up for election. The superintent (at high SALARY), is an employee and not elected even though she has tremendous power and an almost hypnotic power over the board and seemed to have over you as well. They are the ones who blame everyone but themselves for the bond failure.
I agree with your statements in theory. I too wish it was actuality.
Are you going to run for the School Board as so many people say? Why are you not stating it publically? Isn't honesty at the top of the list we all want from our elected officials?
I hope that you can have an impact on creating a new facilities committee that can learn from the past and build a better future for education.