Why I Love Public Service
by John Drury
There was an article posted here over the weekend called “Uncle Sam Wants You.”
This article encourages the “average Joe” to run for and hold public
office, saying that “if only the palm-greasers and back scratchers run
for office, what kind of government will we have?” After reading this
article, I thought it would be appropriate to talk about my own love
for public service and also encourage others to do the same.
A little background might help. I served two terms as mayor of a once
bustling, now struggling farm community located 25 miles southwest of
Mason City. Probably one of the biggest hurdles a small town mayor
faces is apathy. You’ve got the CAVE (Citizens Against Virtually Everything) and the BANANA (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anyone)
people to contend with. These are the more organized groups of people
that will fight you and your vision for the future all the way to
unincorporation. And in Iowa, you’ve got a state legislature with no
strategy to bring rural Iowa back to life. And, of course, you’ve all
heard the expression that it’s a thankless job.
Despite all of that, we took many progressive steps during my four
years as mayor. Under my leadership, we condemned abandoned properties,
turning one into a park. We got people interested again and sparked
volunteerism. We put tax incentive plans in place that have resulted in
growth, both in residential and commercial. We brought in over $40,000
in grant dollars; using those dollars we replaced our park playground
equipment, upgraded fire-fighting gear, and replaced an aging fire
truck. We now have an economic development plan in place that will
serve the needs of current residents, will bring travelers to our town,
and will attract new residents. It will also serve as a business
incubator sparking entrepreneurism in the entire region.
It might seem like making that much progress in a struggling small town
once on the brink of unincorporation might be enough to illustrate my
love of public service. And while there’s no doubt that it’s gratifying
to put plans in place and see them work, I think a better way to
illustrate why I love public service is in the following story.
Back in 2002 when I was Swaledale’s mayor, I had heard that a former
resident wanted to send a box of softballs to me so that I could give
one to every kid in town. Now, as mayor of a small town, I got used to
hearing lots of different things but this one intrigued me. A few days
later, I received a letter from a Bob Westover from Pinellas Park,
Florida.
Here is what he wrote:
Hi John:
I’m sending this note to let you know I took a box of softballs to UPS
today. You will probably get them about next Thursday, do with them as
you like, but mainly see that the younger boys get a good share. The
balls are an accumulation over a few years when the balls sail over the
fence on night games and the people don’t recover them, I do. Have been
hearing some good reports on what you are doing for the “old hometown.”
You must have grown up while I was gone in the Navy from Dec. ’39 till
Aug. ’69. I knew your Dad, Herschel and your grandparents. They were
very nice people. Have to get this in the mail. Another box will be
coming soon. Regards, Bob W.
There were 76 softballs in that first box. A few months later, I
received another box of around 35. Early this year, Bob Westover passed
away at the age of 83.
A month later, his wife had a package delivered
to me with about 30 softballs inside. I have handed out softballs to
kids in Swaledale’s annual town celebrations, parades and at other
events. Bob Westover hadn’t set foot in the town since the day he left
but he stayed on top of all the good things we were doing and he
noticed. I knew I was making a positive difference and getting his
letter only reinforced my love of public service.
Public service is not a thankless job; run for office and win or lose, you’ll be glad you did.
Blog For Iowa 
Thanks for this column. I agree that local government needs more good people, but I am under the impression that local authorities have little room to work. I was once a school board member, but thought the state had all the authority (except for what the superintendent had), so it was not rewarding to attend all those meetings just to rubberstamp decisions of others.
What about county supervisors? Is it worth running for that job? It appears to be mostly road supervision and drainage ditch problems. Can they do anything to help the citizens with health care or other social problems?
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Jerry,
While the state is constantly attacking the home rule amendment to the state constitution, it is still worth running for public office. If nothing else, you can make a case to the state to stay out of a situation that should be decided locally. The home rule amendment allows local governments authority to set their own laws as long as they don't conflict with state law. There is a glaring example of the state taking away local control of an issue that should be left up to the local governments, in this case, county supervisors. The state has essentially legislated a civil war in rural Iowa by taking away home rule on the siting of large scale hog confinements. Legislators like to say that we can't have 99 sets of rules when it comes to these facilities. By that rationale, perhaps we should get rid of our towns and cities because they all have their own code of ordinances. There's too much to say here in a comment, it's a column all by itself, but rest assured, there is a definite need for progressive, concerned, able to listen, county supervisors in Iowa.
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John,
Wonderful article. You are an excellent writer. I'm going to remember CAVE and BANANA!
We ignore school boards at our peril. My very own school district (Pleasant Valley) just smacked down a very good 6th grade teacher for reading “The Misfits” aloud to her class. It's a great book about a group of 12 year olds who are ostracized at school for various reasons and decide to run a slate for student council as the No Name Calling Party. Problem is, one of the 4 Misfits is – gasp – gay! Although a relatively minor character, he's presented in a sympathetic light (ie, normal -okay, a little flamboyant maybe LOL). Can't have that! It's a long story, but the vote against the book was 5 to 2.
Often our school board elections are uncontested. They usually receive 35 votes to win when uncontested; 102 votes will win a contested race. Most people in our school district are mad about the school board decision. But it is our own fault when we ignore these races and the “anti's” take over. Believe me, if it happens in your school district you will realize that who is on the school board does make a difference.
Alta Price
altaprice@mailblocks.com
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Alta,
Thank you for your comments, I wish I could take credit for the CAVE and BANANA, but I learned those acronyms at an Iowa League of Cities Conference. They are so accurate.
There's no doubt we ignore school boards and as Jerry points out, we ignore county supervisors as well. He points out that their issues only seem to be drainage districts and road maintenance. I would argue that those are the issues you hear about mostly because we don't have candidates bringing the real isues to light. Ironically, the Floyd County Board of Supervisors rescinded their own health ordinance put in place to monitor the hog confinements in their county the same week that a U of Iowa report showed increased asthma found among Iowa children living on or close to these facilities.
What's wrong with this picture?
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