Up for a challenge?

Courtesy of the City of Quesnel:

Editor's Note -- this week's Quesnel Council Column is written by Quesnel Mayor Bob Simpson.  He can be reached via email here.  As Mayor Simpson notes today, this will be the last Quesnel Council Column for the 2014-18 term

Do you have a vision for Quesnel? Know where you think our community and region needs to be in 2020 or 2040? Have ideas about how we can address the complex social, environmental, and financial challenges all communities are confronted with? If so, you might want to consider stepping up for an elected position on Quesnel City Council or the Cariboo Regional District this fall.

There are many ways citizens can get involved in shaping their community: volunteer for any number of organizations, engage in community forums or public hearings, organize petitions and lobby efforts to try and effect change, or speak directly with members of Council or the Cariboo Regional District Board. But, one of the most direct ways to get involved in the actual decision-making that can lead to a resilient and sustainable community is by putting your name on a ballot and seeking political office.

Both the Cariboo Regional District Board and Quesnel City Council are made up of regular citizens and ratepayers who were elected to represent their electoral area and/or City residents at the governing table; the place where decisions from the complex and far reaching to the mundane are made. These two governing boards establish a budget that, among other factors, determines your property tax rates and where and how that money is spent. They also determine the strategic direction and priorities of the communities they were elected to serve.

Elected Board and Council members do not, and this is an important distinction, make day to day decisions for their organizations or over specific projects and investments, that work is done by professional staff. So, no special knowledge or skills are needed to serve on the Cariboo Regional District or City Council, just a willingness to learn and a desire to see your community well represented in the governing decisions that affect the lives of your neighbours and friends, and the present and future generations of residents.

This is an election year for all local governments in British Columbia, presenting an opportunity for you to step up and take on the challenge of providing leadership to your community for the next four years. It may appear as a daunting challenge, but that’s the way it has felt to everyone who has ever put their name on a ballot, and very few have regretted taking the risk and serving their community for a term or more.

If you’re interested in running for Quesnel City Council, learn more here

If you’re interested in running for Cariboo Regional District Board (Electoral Area Directors), learn more by visiting the Cariboo Regional District’s website here

This is the last Council News Column for this Council Term. Read more about our Election Period Communications Policy (COMM-3) for more information.