Nearly everyone can likely name the president of the United States. Hopefully, they can cite at least the last name of our vice president. And most likely, people know the name of at least one of their U.S. Senators or Representatives.
But beyond that, the recollection of our elected officials begins to fall apart.
Do you know who your state senator is? Are they up for re-election or does term limits keep them from running again? Do you know what bills they have sponsored in the past? Or this legislative session?
Many McCook and Red Willow County residents would be surprised to know that the person representing them in the Unicameral changed in the past few months - not due to an election but redistricting. State Senator Dan Hughes’ 44th District shifted to the west and now Red Willow County was added to State Sen. Dave Murman’s District #38.
On an even more local level, do you know who your city council members are? Do you know who is representing you on your school board? How about your county commissioners? If asked, could you name all - or any - any elected officials on the county or city level?
So much attention is given to politicians on the national level with little regard to state or locally-elected positions.
Yet, these local officials are the people who have the most impact on our lives on a day-to-day basis. These officials are the ones who decide how our local dollars are spent. These officials are the ones who decide how federal dollars are allocated locally. These officials are the ones who determine projects that happen or don’t happen. These officials are the ones who determine the rules, laws and statutes make onto the books, making it harder or easier for things to happen in a community.
So it is important to learn who is representing you. It is important to stay vigilant about what they are doing by attending meetings, by reading the paper, by listening to news stories. And it is important to reach out to these officials to have your voice heard.
But it doesn’t just stop there. Like I have said in the past, the conversation cannot start and end with “They need to do this” or “They need to that.” “Me” and “I” need to be used more often, especially when it comes to running for political office.
Yes, running for political office can seem daunting, time consuming and down-right scary. It is a huge commitment of time and energy, plus opening yourself up to criticism and critiquing.
On the other hand, consider the difference you can make on your very own community by getting involved as an elected official. Public servants are deciding what our community will look like tomorrow, next year, and 5, 10, 20 years from now.
At the end of the day, someone must do it. Someone must make the decisions which are shaping our communities. Someone must take on the responsibility of how our tax dollars are spent. Someone must be willing to take that step to saying “yes” to getting things done, rather than saying “no” because that is the easy answer.
So if you have been weighing the decision to move from “they” to “me” and making a difference by running for political office, there is not much more time to decide if you live in Nebraska.
With the primary election set for May 10, the filing deadline for incumbents (those currently in office) is Feb. 15, while non-incumbents (otherwise known as new filers) is March 1.
Kansans have until June 1 to file as a candidate for the primary election, which isn’t until Aug. 2.
The general election is set for Tuesday, Nov. 8 for everyone.
If running for political office still isn’t in the cards, then at the very least, you can get involved and learn more about your state-wide government by joining the bi-weekly legislative call with State Senator Murman.
Through a collaboration of the McCook Chamber and the McCook Community Foundation Fund, anyone can join a conference call with Sen. Murman via Zoom. The call takes place every other Thursday at 8:20-9 a.m. while the Unicameral is in session through April 21.
It is a chance to get an update on the bills sponsored by our state senator, as well as bring up questions and concerns you may have about legislation you would like to see or bills which are already pending.
Maybe it is how federal dollars will be allocated across the state and will any of those dollars make their way west. Maybe it is how schools receive state aid and is that aid equally distributed across school districts. Maybe it the discussion on whether to keep - or get rid of of - Nebraska’s Unicameral…the idea of McCook’s very own George Norris.
Whether it is throwing your hat into the ring as a public servant or simply putting your toe in the water by attending government meetings, each and every one of us can make a difference at some level.
Those things which are personal get our attention. Those things which get our attention get done. So make politics personal, give it your attention and get things done to make our community an even better place to call home.
