| Jan 8 @ 9:44 PM |
A start in politics or free labor?
|
|
kjac
Posts: 5,484
|
I'm not sure where this belongs, but I'll try it out here.
The town of Zaleski is a relatively small town with a couple of factories, a few bars, and some odds and ends novelty shops. Currently, they do not have a mayor. The biggest reason? It's a non-paying gig. Not low paying, non-paying. My question is, would this be a starting opportunity for someone who wished to enter the political arena, or would it just be free labor for a town unwilling to pay for duties rendered?
|
|
  |
|
| Jan 8 @ 9:50 PM |
A start in politics or free labor? |
|
Nightowl001
Posts: 4,087
|
I think the answer to your question, Kjac, is how the person who decided to take the job would view it. If they were to see it as an opportunity to get an elected office on their resume and a chance to show they had SOME experience in municipal government, they might take it for that reason. If someone were more or less selected for the position, perhaps even though they didn't really want it, well, I'm sure they would view it as being pressed into service and used. I'm not so sure I would assume the town was just "unwilling" to pay for office of a mayor. You mentioned a couple of factories and a few (very?) small businesses. If this is a case like SO many cities in the 70s and 80s that gave tax breaks to industry to locate in a town (or not relocate out) there actually may not be enough of a tax base to support a mayor. Basic municipal utilities, etc., may pretty well eat up what funds are available. It would take some looking into to determine that.
|
| |
|
| Jan 8 @ 9:50 PM |
A start in politics or free labor?
|
|
lefthandedluckie
Posts: 5,023
|
It would be a great place to start. Look at the good you could accomplish. Plus, all the while showing the people it was not the money, but the necessary things the city needed and you were trying to provide for them!
Money used to never be the motivation. It was always the good you were trying to do for the community. By using your vision for the future!
|
|
| |
|
| Jan 8 @ 9:59 PM |
A start in politics or free labor? |
|
kjac
Posts: 5,484
|
By the way, I wasn't considering the position myself. I could never do the politics thing. Way too many skeletons and not enough willingness to be a sleaze.
|
| |
|
| Jan 9 @ 12:19 AM |
A start in politics or free labor?
|
|
lefthandedluckie
Posts: 5,023
|
I could never be a politicain either. I have this sign on my forehead that comes on when I tell a big one. It blinks "liar, liar pants on fire"! 
You have to be able to skew, skirt, by pass the truth! I can't do it...too honest and too open!
|
|
| |
|
| Jan 9 @ 7:07 AM |
A start in politics or free labor? |
|
MusicMonster
Posts: 2,954
|
I can speak to this a little bit..
I think it's a great thing to do! Interesting experience and much to be learned from it. Plus you very seldom need to dedicate large chunks of your time. More often than not a politician on that level is only officially active two or three times per week, if that, as are many city services such as volunteer fire departments, etc.
So compensation is really not a big deal. It's basically volunteer work. Most of them maintain their original occupations for their living, with that becoming a part-time side-duty.
Political sleaze doesn't really have to enter in, on a small local level, and usually doensn't, and there are seldom any attack ads.  Nor are you put under a high-powered microscope or personally dissected by your constituency, or the media, to any great degree. It just isn't usually necessary. Nor is having any reason to lie. 
It's most interesting running a mini-campaign and once in office developing local policy, meeting with your boards or councils and the like, dealing with local affairs and setting policy. And it's interesting having quite a bit of involvement in such things as they develop. If one has political aspirations, I'd say it is very helpful, and highly recommended.
Give it some thought Kjac!!  Time very well spent..
-MM 
[Edited on 1/9/2008 7:16 AM]
|
| |
|
|
|
|