Help Wanted: Relatively new city, predominantly OTP to the north, seeks City Council candidates for Sandy Springs District 4 area (please refer to map on city website). Must meet residency requirements per City Charter. Prior experience holding elected office not required. Must have reliable transportation to attend City Council meetings. Compensation is $12K per year.
Please submit résumé and references to registered voters of the district, make self available to voters for questions and resist urge to pepper the city with signs supporting your candidacy.
For those keeping score at home, District 4 council member Ashley Jenkins resigned her post earlier this month and a date for a nonpartisan election to serve out the rest of her term will be scheduled Feb. 1.
This doesn’t apply to all, but if you’ve been fussing and fuming wishing “somebody” would do something about [please insert your pet peeve about life in Sandy Springs here], well, opportunity is thumping on your door. Now is as good a time as any.
Having covered local politics on several occasions, I offer the following dissuasion for those who might be dazzled by the bright lights of seeking elected office and not thinking clearly:
Whenever possible, please avoid moth-eaten generalities. A good example is something like, “I’m a strong believer in family values.” First, the term is a wee bit vague, as that will vary family to family. Second, in three decades of observing office seekers I’ve yet to meet one who assails family values.
However, if you do oppose them, well, now we have something to stir the pot. By all means, elaborate.
Do not fall into the trap of thinking local politics is less stressful than national office. When you hold any elected office two things are certain. Just about every decision you make will be public. And every decision you make will make a lot of people, who get to vote on your political future, choleric. Public office means no place to duck when the spit hits the spam.
And please avoid unintelligible avowals, like promising to “take care of our neighborhoods.” That sounds swell, but what exactly does it mean? You’ll defend them from commercial encroachment? Or you’ll put one of those grody leaf-blowers on your back and walk through your district eliminating nature’s detritus from the gutters? Either is just swell by me — I just want to know what to expect.
Oh, one more thing. Now might be a good time to take a close look at anything you may have put on Facebook or YouTube. What made you and tequila a folk hero during spring break usually doesn’t play well after the fact.
That pretty well covers the high points. Please never forget the feeling — positive or negative — you’ve had as a citizen of what it feels like to have someone reaching into your pocket, spending your money and making decisions that will affect your life. If you can do that I think you can take it from here.
I’m Jim Osterman, and I approved this message.
Jim Osterman lives in Sandy Springs. Reach him at jimosterman@rocketmail.com
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