Earth nature field

Waynesville Alderman Job Description

Topics of general interest
Forum Member

Waynesville Alderman Job Description

Unread post by Forum Member »

Too often people decide to become a candidate for the role of elected representative for the wrong reasons. As well, people get elected to become an elected representative without having any idea how they should perform their job. What we the public then get is somewhat equivalent of a high school student council popularity contest where some figurehead person sits in a seat and does what the student council advisors allow them to do all the while following the rules set by those that have the power.

So THIS job description is what is expected from anyone applying for the job of elected representative.

Duties:
  1. Know, solicit, develop, or otherwise learn the will of the people that elected you to represent them.
    1. First, know that a “constituent” is precisely someone who elects you to represent them. Non-voters are NOT constituents. A business isn’t a constituent – though a business owner might be a single constituent. An out-of-town property owner isn’t a constituent – though they are a taxpayer. A person who is not registered to vote (such as a felon serving a sentence) is not a constituent. So let it be VERY clear that an elected representative is to represent a CONSTITUENT and nobody else.
    2. Note that it is the Town Manager and Town staff that serve all that are in Waynesville. But they do that with the policy that is set by the elected representatives.
    3. Also know that it is the constituents that can fire you as the ultimate form of accountability. If you trust someone else to do the work of soliciting, developing, and learning what the voter wants then you run the risk of being fired by your constituents in a public way.
    4. It is a common mistake for you as an elected representative to take advice from the government that you should oversee about what your constituents want from you. Boards and Commissions are manipulation tools– accountability comes to the ones who are elected – not appointed.
    5. Pro-Tip: When the voters have your back, you can never be wrong. And when the voters have your back, you will be respected by the people of the community.
  2. Actively thwart and rebuff entities that attempt to manipulate your representation by using coercion, pressure tactics, and/or bribery of all forms.
    1. Newspapers are the most notorious for attempting to coerce an elected representative by threatening disgraceful or dishonest press coverage aimed at turning your voters against you. See item 1.c. above.
    2. Non-profit or non-government organizations (NGOs) are the second most notorious entity to attempt to unduly influence elected representatives. Usually non-profit and NGO entities stand to benefit from monies a government might pay them. They are also notorious for creating problems only to ask for money to solve. And in Waynesville, it’s been noticed that non-profits/NGOs work together as an ecosystem which could throw off the guard of the unsuspecting elected representative.
    3. Beware of the “board member” or “employment offer”. It is disgraceful (even if legal) that you (or a family member) can hold a board member position or Executive Director position and vote to give money to your organization. This is something that is getting a lot more scrutiny lately. Expect disgraceful and public call-outs from the voters on this conflict of interest.
    4. Pro-Tip: If the newspapers aren’t at times writing ungraceful articles about you, then you aren’t doing your job correctly. And if local powerful business leaders aren’t calling you privately to threaten you unless you see it thier way, then you’re not aligned with the people.
  3. Always keep the perspective that the elected representative is to oversee the government.
    1. When the government that you are supposed to oversee prepares the agenda for you to consider and also provides the guidance that they expect you to take, consider who it is that is overseeing who.
    2. When the government that you are supposed to oversee hires an attorney to provide intimidating advice and recommendations that conflict with what your voters might want, consider the attorney as an agent of the government and not the servant of the people.
    3. Always look for the choice that isn't there. It's a thing for a government to present you with a false dilemma. That is you may be led to believe that you must choose A or B. But there might be an option C. Or you may be able to choose "none" and not act. Reference 3.a. above.
    4. When the government that you are supposed to oversee performs and reports their own performance reviews, consider how the constituents see their performance and see if those align.
    5. Know that there are college degrees in "Public Administration". Think about what skills someone with 4 years of learning how to manage elected representatives and the public has. Google "Public Administration Degree" and see what that degree has for it's goal. Hint: As an elected representative, anyone in "Public Administration" is educated on how to manipulate/influence you.
    6. Pro-Tip: When a Planning Director shows signs of political influence extraneous to the community she serves, consider this is a bad actor for the community.
  4. Master President Lincoln’s philosophy, “You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time.”
    1. Be an expert at knowing your stakeholders and who butters your bread.
    2. “You’re doing a great job!” means little if said by the newspapers or the CEO of a large company if your voters think you are little more than a spineless snake oil salesman.
    3. Pro-Tip: Extend your “elected representative” title into the conversations with newspapers and influential business owners with statements like, “I hear you. But you need to make your case with the people that I represent. When they change their position, then I’ll change mine.”
  5. Beware of "training" or "orientation" by disguised political entities
    1. The UNC School of Government does not always act apolitical. Feel free to discard advice they give you that conflicts with those that elected you to office. Opinions on the NC and US Constitutions are just that. Use your best judgement and consult multiple people when considering conflicting opinions.
    2. Remember that those approaching you in a public meeting that feels all formal and stuffy have likely been doing so a long time. They are far more skilled at pushing limits of what can be done in a public forum. They might also try to make you feel insecure, incompetent, and disoriented in your position for refusing to cooperate with what they ask of you.
    3. Pro-Tip: When you feel insecure, incompetent, and disoriented with something you are being asked to decide, table the issue so that you can get the information and perspective you need. Agendas are provided in advance so that you can prepare. If something is sprung on you during the meeting, there's a good chance someone is attempting to manipulate you. Remember the fable about the Emperor that has no clothes.
  6. Beware of "Regionalization" issues
    1. Sovereignty is a thing. A town or county or state or country came into existence for good reason. The autonomy of a political entity (town/county/state/nation) is to be respected.
    2. There is a new-ish trick about doing "regional" things. That is you dilute your elected representation by entering or forming agreements with other entities that could outnumber you.
    3. If someone suggests to the voters of Waynesville (through you as an elected representative) needs to partner with some other entity to co-own a sewer treatment plant, treat that as VERY suspect.
    4. If someone suggests to the voters of Waynesville (through you as an elected representative) needs to partner with some other entity to better consolidate, attract, and fund a larger homeless shelter or mental health facility, consider that VERY suspect.
    5. Pro-Tip: The theory is that you have powers on loan from the voters. If you are ever asked to dilute or diminish those powers, that is a VERY big deal. Such a proposal will sound like a "partnership" proposal.
  7. Money is not the metric you should value
    1. Too often elected representatives are incorrectly evaluating their performance on how much money they negotiated with some state or federal funding or attracting some kind of business. Almost no voter will evaluate the performance of an elected representative on how much federal funding they caused. That arguably could be one of the metrics a planning department uses, but if the elected representative also uses that metric, they are not voter-centric but government-centric.
    2. Consider the example that there must exist somewhere an organization similar to "The Strippers of America" that promote sex workers. How might the voters rate an elected representative if they "won" a $1M deal from that organization to install a giant strip club on South Main Street -- which would require that Waynesville remove the ordinance that prohibits strip clubs. Now change that logic to replace "strip club" with "homeless shelter". It's the same thing.
    3. Pro-Tip: If you justify your actions and decision with how much money/revenue that it would cause in the community, you are on the losing side of an issue and risk being called a "sellout" by your constituents.
  8. The job is not "boss of the government"
    1. "Elected Representative" is not the same thing as "boss" or "supervisor". An entire topic could be written around this statement. Just explore in your mind and with your constituents how the two roles are different.
    2. The government you are supposed to oversee will naturally and always come to you for what THEY want. It is not your role as an elected representative to find a compromise of what the government wants and what your constituents want.
    3. Don't be afraid to consider a change in a Town Manager or Town Attorney. In theory, those two positions are the only ones an Alderman should hire/fire so that the will of the voter is respected. YOUR performance evaluation of the Town Manager and Town Attorney should be how well the town staff as a whole functions as determined by the constituents.
    4. As Alderman, you hire a professional manager to manage the government. Stay in your swim lane. Let the manager manage. YOU as Alderman are the one and only way constituents have their will reflected in "self-government". If you're not covering that base (the representation of the constituent) then nobody is.
    5. Pro-Tip: Be very comfortable telling the government "no". If you have a graceful style, do that with a smile. Though sometimes a constituency appreciates a more adversarial posture to a government that is abusive or disrespectful to the community they are supposed to serve.
    If you made it through this article and agree with and understand the points made, consider paying the $50 in 2023 to run for Alderman. All of the current Aldermen seats are up for vote in 2023. We will post the process and deadlines on running for Alderman soon.
Forum Member

Re: Waynesville Alderman Job Description

Unread post by Forum Member »

To get on the ballot to be a Waynesville Alderman or Mayor, the process/deadlines/costs:

https://haywoodcountync.gov/DocumentCen ... -Municipal

You have to live in the Waynesville town limits and be 21 years old.
You need to make up your mind and commit by July 21 at noon.
And it'll cost $10 to get your name on the ballot.

All 5 seats for Waynesville are up for grabs. There's no indication yet if any of the Aldermen or Mayor elected in 2019 will run again.

We will start pages for each elected office to describe pros and cons shortly.
Post Reply