In the unlikely chance that you missed hearing, reading or watching something on TV about it, last week was Georgia Cities Week, a Georgia Municipal Association creation that seeks to promote city government.
Nearly 100 municipalities in the state participate in the event in one form or another, including both Pembroke and Richmond Hill.
Some cities take it more seriously than others, but as a rule there are events ranging from essay contests, luncheons and art shows to groundbreakings, fishing contests and more.
It’s not a bad idea. City governments carry many responsibilities and anything that connects people to the government that serves them is important.
But in the real world, Georgia Cities Week is less important to the public than the one we’re in the middle of now -- April 26-30.
This is the week of qualifying for political offices when challengers and incumbents alike who represent our two main political parties make official their decision to run. Those who seek to run as independents or as write-in candidates have a later opportunity to get their name on the ballot, but this is when the real “campaign season” begins to kick into high gear.
With the primaries mere months away, this week serves in a way as the unofficial kick off to campaigning as candidates seek to get their name out to voters, who in turn start to wonder what choices they’ll have.
This year, there are a number of offices up for election in Bryan County on both the school board and county commission. Some folks have already declared their candidacy, others who have been rumored to be considering a run have yet to make their decision public. Whatever happens, incumbents and challengers alike deserve our thanks for their commitment to local government. Whether one agrees with their stances or not, they have at least given of their time and talent to try and make a difference.
Of course, it is usually easier to criticize, but criticism alone doesn’t make good government. It takes people willing to run who are committed to better government.
Our hope is that by the end of the week voters will have a wide slate of candidates from which to pick, a slate that represents a cross section of the community as a whole. And if you’re thinking about running, our advice is simple: Go for it.
Nearly 100 municipalities in the state participate in the event in one form or another, including both Pembroke and Richmond Hill.
Some cities take it more seriously than others, but as a rule there are events ranging from essay contests, luncheons and art shows to groundbreakings, fishing contests and more.
It’s not a bad idea. City governments carry many responsibilities and anything that connects people to the government that serves them is important.
But in the real world, Georgia Cities Week is less important to the public than the one we’re in the middle of now -- April 26-30.
This is the week of qualifying for political offices when challengers and incumbents alike who represent our two main political parties make official their decision to run. Those who seek to run as independents or as write-in candidates have a later opportunity to get their name on the ballot, but this is when the real “campaign season” begins to kick into high gear.
With the primaries mere months away, this week serves in a way as the unofficial kick off to campaigning as candidates seek to get their name out to voters, who in turn start to wonder what choices they’ll have.
This year, there are a number of offices up for election in Bryan County on both the school board and county commission. Some folks have already declared their candidacy, others who have been rumored to be considering a run have yet to make their decision public. Whatever happens, incumbents and challengers alike deserve our thanks for their commitment to local government. Whether one agrees with their stances or not, they have at least given of their time and talent to try and make a difference.
Of course, it is usually easier to criticize, but criticism alone doesn’t make good government. It takes people willing to run who are committed to better government.
Our hope is that by the end of the week voters will have a wide slate of candidates from which to pick, a slate that represents a cross section of the community as a whole. And if you’re thinking about running, our advice is simple: Go for it.