Three Political-Free Years?

    The signs should be coming down this week, except for a few runoffs, and the local Central elections are all gone for a full four years.  I have a suggestion: three years with no politics.
    With Central’s next City and School Board elections all happening at the same time, (fall of 2018), I expect that year to be full to the brim with election-style politics, and I expect our city to be inundated with about 10,000 political signs.  In the meantime, how about three years of politics-free governing of our city and school system, and healthy citizen participation in that process?
    By definition, “politics” is simply the activity of governing, but the term has been transformed over the years into the activity of getting people elected and keeping them in office.  In my opinion, it’s “politicking” that gets in the way of good governing.
    But “politicking” cannot be blamed solely on those in office.  There is a shared burden between citizens and elected officials to keep the political process from becoming a problem.
    Citizens, if you hope an elected official makes bad decisions, and celebrate when they do, so you can vote them out of office in four years, you are not being an “informed citizen”, you are politicking.
    Elected officials, if you avoid making tough decisions that you know are right, because they would be unpopular, you are not governing, you are politicking.
    Citizens, if you tolerate bad decisions by those in office simply because you want them to stay there, you are not being supportive of your elected officials, you are politicking.
    Elected officials, if you only support the efforts and programs of those that you know will support your re-election, you are not building a community, you are politicking.
    I could go on, but I think the point is made.  If you are familiar with this column, you know that I would never promote anyone compromising their beliefs or remaining silent just to get along.  So, elected officials, lead in the way you feel is best, and citizens, speak out honestly and loudly whenever you need to, but let’s all do that in the interest of good government and not for political gain.
    No matter who you are or who you supported in an election, we have a window of three years to simply do what is best for Central and not what is politically expedient.  That would be Good News for a Great City.