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OPINION

White: To run or not to run for Dover council

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Chris White is a resident of Dover.

I have recently been reading letters in the Daily State News about a shake-up being needed in Dover City Council (“Major shake-up needed at Dover City Hall”), about how public interest is lacking (“Public interest lacking in Dover government”) and about how, if residents want to change things, they should run for council (“To change things in Dover, run for its City Council”). If I am correct, it appears that citizens are not happy with some of the current City Council representatives, or they wouldn’t be expressing their dissatisfaction with these published letters.

All these letters are illuminating, affirming and depressing, all at the same time. I previously served in the military and used to think that I wanted to serve in public office to help others and move our country forward. As I went on learning more about the American political machine, I realized how hopelessly corrupt our system is, how reliant it is on money and how irrelevant all the people are who (at least ostensibly) set out to make change for the better. You’re either rich, you sell yourself to those who are, or you are fortunate enough to have a constituency that will actually send you to serve, despite having little to no chance of making a difference. There were multiple nails in the coffin for my aspirations for public service. First was the realization of how disgustingly rich some of our representatives have managed to become through sacrificing the people who put them in their positions. Our politics has become so divisive and broken I think it may be beyond repair.

There are many reasons people choose to run for public office. Some of these are altruistic and based on a desire to genuinely make a difference, while others are entirely ego-driven, like some of these Dover City Council members. All candidates should have a 25-word “I’m running because” statement that articulates their public reasons for running. This should be carefully crafted and not the usual fake reason a candidate is running.

After conducting some research, I found out that the council members of the city of Dover serve in a part-time capacity. They make about $18,000 per year, with the council president making $25,000-plus. The office is not designed to be a hands-on, full-time position. It’s mostly designed for mini-legislators who are already wealthy, retired or hard at work in a full-time position elsewhere. Some are even pastors, believe it or not. From what I observed, it doesn’t afford a great deal of time and effort.

The city vests power primarily in a city manager. City Council members see largely finished proposals that have already been worked out by the city manager, city staff and business interests. They have little authority to do anything other than rubber-stamp or say no to someone else’s work.

In conclusion, I can see why so few want to run, but then again, if you don’t, expect no change and things to remain the same.

Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.

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