Running for office comes with a cost

When it comes to our elected officials, we often forget that the extra work that they take on in order to serve their community always comes at a personal cost. And sometimes a professional one, too.

That is true whether you’re a longtime councillor at city hall or taking a run for a seat around the school board table. Sure, some candidates may have personal agendas when they throw their names into the hat for election day.

Some look at small-town politics as a stepping stone to bigger seats at bigger tables. Others may be driven to run because of a single issue that they are passionate about.

But most anyone who runs for councillor or trustee believes that they have the time and the experience to help grow their community, and do some good. And while members of the community can often lose sight of this reality when their streets aren’t cleared of snow, or there’s a broken water main on their street causing them irritation, it’s important to remember that every locally elected official is a human being with families, friends and failings like the rest of us.

And most of all, they have other responsibilities, too.

Earlier this week, we learned that two more serving Brandon School Board trustees would not be returning to the board table after the coming fall election.

Trustee Calistus Ekenna confirmed on Monday that he has decided not to seek re-election on Oct. 28. Ekenna, who has served more than six years on the board of trustees, said his decision was weighted by his family, not politics.

“There are seasons in life when we are called to serve our community, and there are seasons when we need to make more room for the people closest to us,” Ekenna said. “This is the time to be more present, spend more time with family, share ordinary moments and be there for the important moments.”

For trustee Breeanna Sieklicki, who has served nearly one four-year term on the board of trustees, her family — and thus her priorities — have changed since she was first elected. With her family doubling from two children to four, she said the demands of board meetings have become more difficult to manage, and she needs to spend more time with them.

“My family will always come first, and right now, my family needs me to be at home,” Sieklicki said.

Both Ekenna and Sieklicki join longtime trustee Jim Murray, who announced his retirement from the board table after more than 30 years of public service.

“I’ve enjoyed every single minute of it, but we sold our business recently, and I’m now officially fully retired, sitting here with my wife,” Murray said. “I think it’s time to move on. It’s time for a new group of people to take over at the board table.”

But for many of us, that’s a difficult ask. Even for all three of these outgoing trustees, emerging priorities and dwindling time weighs heavily when considering running for public office.

The same can be said for outgoing councillors like Ward 2 Coun. Kris Desjarlais and Ward 9 Coun. Glen Parker, who have both decided not to run for another term in office, and instead have encouraged new people to take up the slack.

“I think fresh energy and fresh eyes is helpful, is good for a council, good for a city,” he told the Sun back in July. “I think it’s time for me to step aside and let somebody else take it.”

That sets the stage for more people to take a run for politics. In this case, Ward 2 has five candidates vying for the seat.

And we can always hope that more people will heed the call to serve their community. But as Marci Bomford attested in a letter to the editor on Tuesday, it can be a daunting decision. Bomford, a local resident and experienced business owner, offered up her thoughts about the difficulties facing people who are considering a local run for councillor.

“Research on Canadian municipal elections consistently shows that the time, money and networks required to run, let alone to unseat an incumbent, filter out a huge share of the population before a single vote is cast,” she wrote. “People with flexible schedules, financial cushions and name recognition have a real head start. People working 9-to-5 jobs, raising families and living paycheque to paycheque generally do not.”

Bomford is correct about the hurdles that a new challenger faces, particularly in wards where an incumbent seeks re-election. There is much to consider in making such a run.

But the irony is that we need people to give of themselves for their community, to take the time to understand the issues, and to hopefully make informed decisions for the betterment of the city and its residents.

Bomford also offered a good piece of advice to those thinking about getting involved in the community, even if a run for office isn’t in the cards just yet. There are a myriad of committees and organizations that need expertise and time commitments from people who have something to offer.

It’s also a great way to raise your profile for some future date when time and opportunity align for an elected seat.

It’s important that we support those who have served and continue to do so — those who have given of themselves, taken time from their families and given up quieter moments at home or abroad for difficult discussions with their elected peers and mounds of paperwork.

And with an election on its way in October, we should also find ways to support and encourage those who would seek to do the same.