Democracy needs you to show up

There is a lot of work to do.

Somebody has to do it.

It’s said that the world is run by those who show up. That’s even more true of our cities, counties and schools.

For local government to work, local people have to step up and offer more than their opinion and criticism — they have to offer their time, effort and commitment.

We’re in the middle of the filing period for local government offices. Here in Winona we will be electing a new mayor and seats on the city council are up for election. We need candidates to serve on the school board, the soil and water conservation district board and as county commissioners.

There’s a lot of work to do. Important decisions to be made.

It’s not an easy job.

Even though it seems that everybody who’s sat in a classroom knows how our public schools should be run and everybody who’s paid their tax bill has an opinion on how those dollars should — and shouldn’t — be spent, anyone who’s served in public office knows the issues and decisions are far more complex, far more difficult than they seem at the coffee shop or neighborhood tap.

The meetings are long. The decisions are difficult. The criticism is unending.

It’s a tough job, but if government “of the people, by the people, and for the people” is to continue, somebody has to do it.

That means filing, running, and, if elected, serving.

The world is run by those who show up.

Show up.

— Winona Daily News, May 30