Those who run locally all winners

Richard Stone was watching the snow fall Tuesday night in Colorado as he waited to find out whether he had won a seat on the Bangor City Council.

Miles Theeman, another candidate and a newcomer to the world of local politics, was at his east side Bangor home concocting creative ways to delay Stone’s return.

“I was thinking maybe I could hijack his plane so he’d miss the swearing-in ceremony and I could take his place,” Theeman quipped Tuesday evening.

Actually, the men are great friends, and Theeman was pleased that Stone squeaked his way onto the council. He wasn’t as pleased that he himself had come in fourth in a race with three open seats.

Having spent a fair amount of time – 20 years, in fact – in and around the world of local government, I was struck by their enthusiasm and desire to serve their city. All across this state Tuesday, people were elected to serve on local boards and councils, and the majority of them will do so with little or no compensation.

Those people spend their own time, and at least some of their own money, to put up campaign signs and knock on doors for the opportunity to spend hours in meetings, listen to gripes from angry constituents and make decisions that at best will please only half of the people some of the time.

Take the life of a Bangor city councilor, for instance. Former Councilor and Mayor John Rohman, who served six years on the council, figures he spent about three evenings a week at City Hall for six years. During the spring budget season, add more hours for weekend meetings.

“When I was mayor, I figure I spent 15 to 20 hours a week in council and committee meetings,” Rohman said this week. “As a city councilor, you will average 10 to 12 hours a week, easily.”

Rohman didn’t realize the time commitment involved when he ran the first time, and neither did the city’s current council chairman, Danny Tremble.

“I think most new councilors, when they realize the time commitment, say to themselves, ‘Oh, my God!” Rohman said.

So while the focus of this intense election has been on national offices that bring with them benefits, paychecks and perks, it may be worth taking a moment to think of the thousands of candidates who worked pretty darn hard for the chance to “volunteer” in their own communities.

“We’ve really been lucky in Bangor over the years to get the type of council candidates that we have,” Tremble remarked, “because it is a huge commitment.”

There are many residents who spend much time watching and criticizing the council and its decisions. That’s not a bad thing, because the council holds the strings to the city’s purse, and councilors should be held accountable for their decisions.

Two of these residents, Tom Mooney and Ken Buckley, who spend a lot of time attending council meetings, actually stepped up and made a run for a council seat this year. With limited financial resources, their attempts failed, but both men put in the effort.

Theeman also ran because he found himself complaining about the city’s course.

“I felt like that if I was going to complain, then I shouldn’t just sit back and watch,” he said.

Others, however, seem to spend an awful lot of time talking with newspaper and TV reporters about their complaints with regard to city council decisions.

Maybe they should put their names on the ballot.