To see so many people put their hand up to serve on their local council can only be a good thing.
Although it’s fair to say that for some people it’s a mystery why anyone would want to get on the council.
All that effort and so little to show for it – it doesn’t make any difference in the end, they argue.
Well, some of us beg to differ.
Looking at it from the point of view of volunteering, serving on council is the ultimate, in my book.
Sure, councillors pick up a little bit of money for their trouble, around $20,000 to $25,000 a year, but none of them will become wealthy by being on the council.
Like volunteers of all kinds, those who nominate to serve on council do so out of the desire to make a contribution to the place where they live.
Whether it’s Camden, Liverpool, Campbelltown or Wollondilly, election candidates wish to make their areas even better than they are.
They believe they have something to contribute, and for that we must be grateful.
The end result is that the rest of us, when we go to vote on Saturday December 4, to elect new councils, will be offered a tremendous choice of candidates.
It’s true that it would be better to see even more people throw their hats in the ring.
But in 2021 it’s safe to say we are blessed with so many people who care enough to offer themselves up for service on their local council.
To say it’s the closest form of government to ordinary people is much more than a cliché.
Councils in the twenty-first century are much more than rates, roads and rubbish.
They also run comprehensive library services, arts centres, child care centres, citizenship ceremonies and much more.
And let’s not forget that they rake in hundreds of millions of dollars in rates, which they spend on services and paying council staff.
They can also be the driving force in an area, encouraging investors and tourists.
So don’t ever let anyone tell you councils are not important.
They are and all those candidates deserve to see every single ratepayer roll up to vote on December 4.
