We are well into the election season and we will be seeing much more asking for our support in the upcoming general election.
First of all, it takes courage to put your name forward and go through the challenge involved in running for office, so hats off to those that were willing to cast their hat into the ring. Hopefully they care about their communities and are willing to work for a better future for those they’d represent.
The role of elected servants comes with a desire to serve, not to control or to be filled with power or influence. It comes with significant responsibility to guide the future development of their area of responsibility and to be good stewards of public dollars and wise planners and investors in the future. That is no small task and comes with real accountability and responsibility.
CITIZENSHIP
Elections are our opportunity to share our voice and no matter how you see the issues or the future ahead, your voice is important, so make a plan to vote on or before November 3.
Hats off to Carver County Local News and the League of Women Voters of Eastern Carver County for providing Voter Guides and Forums to get candidate information out to the electorate. It’s important work done by groups of community minded people. Thanks so much for your dedication and commitment to informing communities.
WHY SO NEGATIVE?
One bothersome issue around elections is the vitriol that is displayed at the state and national levels. The day of statesmanship and respect for others is seemingly out the window. Attacks—often personal attacks—seem to now be acceptable, which only litters the landscape of public discourse with misrepresentation and confusion. At the national level, it is heightened to a level where it is disgusting and leads to greater divisions.
We, I believe, want to respect and hold in high regard those that represent us. Respect for others is a community value. Respect them as they conduct and carry out their responsibilities even if we disagree with the policy involved. What has happened to that democratic principle of vigorous debate but behaviors and attributes that we can respect and support? What has happened to the value and respect for each other? It has seemingly eroded over time. We should expect more.
RISING TAXES
I believe we must ask for a more transparent, planned approach from those stewards of the public dollars, making it a priority to help people understand the details. Along with other rising costs, it is driving one of the key issues across our country today: affordability.
Often, huge project costs are discussed, but when the need and impact, along with past property tax performance and future projections are shared, local units of government finances can be seen as open and transparent by the tax payer and people can understand the return on investment. That at least gives the taxpayer an opportunity to make that decision.
It would seem reasonable that local units of government have financial management as a primary goal to include property tax impacts. Openness and transparency in the spending of public dollars builds public understanding, trust and confidence.
EDUCATION IMPACT
I am most concerned about the impact on our education system if taxpayers become weary of continued rising property taxes. The investment in education is just that: an investment in our future and is one we must support, as it is critical to all of our futures.
If most people strive to live within their means, then it seems reasonable to expect that local units of government should do the same. Now given some of the mandates being passed down to local levels of government by state and federal government, that expectation may be easier said than done. And, In saying that, there may be communities that may approve of more spending. But that doesn’t seem to represent the view of most of Carver County.
Regardless, open communication on what is and has occurred around levying property taxes would be a healthy community dialogue.
The point here is not to put future investments in our education system at risk.
SUBURBAN TREND?
Affordability is another concern across Carver County. When you can’t afford to live in a community, that starts to introduce a much more suburban view of what a city or a town represents.
The cities across Carver County value their sense of community and work hard at preserving that feeling. You see growing emphasis on becoming a community of belonging or a more engaged, connected community. What needs to be included in the discussion is affordability, and property taxes become a part of that topic.
THE PRIDE OF THE STUDENTS
On a much different topic, but a timely one, I wanted to share this thought with you.
As the school year has kicked into full swing and we see all the activities and team sports begin their competitions, we experience a sense of pride and inspiration for how these young people compete and represent all of us, whether it’s Chanhassen High School or Chaska High School.
We should never underestimate the impact that school activities have on building community.
Whether its debate, knowledge bowl, band or choir, soccer, volleyball or football teams, school groups bring our communities together. All of these and more wear the names of their school with pride and that trickles down to us that follow and cheer for them.
For me, it comes from 121 years of those that have gone before and worn jerseys or sat behind names that identified their school. It’s a common bond that will last a lifetime. It’s a pride that will always be a part of us and we’ll cheer hard for those that represent us. For me, it’s simply the pride of the hawks.
