MARIE WUJEK Advertisement

Why would anyone want to be a town board member?

This is an unpaid elected position in which half the town dislikes you and the other half doesn't even know who you are.

Is it the prestige or the respect that comes with the title "town board member"? A Politics 101 course for those with future political aspirations and ambitions? I think not.

I've lived in Pahrump over 10 years and don't recall any town board member being treated any differently than a regular Joe; at times, if recognized, it seems they are almost ignored. Respect is something earned, not automatically given, so that can't be it.

And I don't recall any Pahrump town board member advancing in the political arena to an actual elected and paid position.

Seems they all start out with the same agenda: "to improve Pahrump for all those who live here," only to discover, once elected, the agenda for Pahrump is predetermined by the town manager and his advisors. This scenario is what has played out as long I have lived here.

Not that the town board members are not allowed to bring problems and issues to the table, I'm just not sure how much credence their problems and issues are given.

In many respects, it is not right or fair to blame the town board members for items or issues that appear on the meeting agenda, as the majority of them are new to the board. What I have a problem with are items and issues that appear to have been pre-decided with no notice or previous discussion with the locals.

PTO 43 is one such issue. There was an enormous amount of testimony given against passage of this ordinance, yet PTO 43 passed with a 4-1 vote, indicating to me and lots of other folks that this decision was made ahead of time and the voice of the people didn't matter.

I know you "can please some of the people some of the time, but you will never please all of the people all of the time."

With as much resistance as PTO 43 received, the decision should have been taken to table the vote, hold workshops or maybe form a committee involving town residents, and let them voice their concerns and assist in the development of this ordinance -- not just create an ordinance without resident involvement and then ram it down their throats.

In a nutshell, "We the People" no longer trust "You the Politicians" to make rules and decisions for us.

We want to know in advance what you plan to do to "better our community" prior to deciding and approving ordinances, rules or changes without consulting and involving those who elected you.

You, namely the town board, start at the bottom rung of the ladder.

Think about it, board members. You are politicians when it comes to town issues, then you become one of the "We the People" when it is a Nye County, state of Nevada or federal issue. Don't you want the right to be heard, just as those you were elected or appointed to serve?

Communication is the key. With all that has gone on in the last 20 years, people no longer believe in politicians. A piece of advice -- when something on the agenda brings people in opposition by the busload, table the issue or item, schedule a roundtable discussion or workshop and let the voice of the people be heard.

Better yet, if it is a major issue, concern or problem, state the nature of it along with your proposals and ideas to handle it in your agenda. Open the floor to testimony and then see where and how you feel about what transpired with the input shared.

Pahrump has grown extensively in the last 20 years. Decisions made can have a positive or negative effect on her residents. You are no longer making decisions affecting a few thousand people but nearly 40,000.

People moved here for various reasons from all areas and walks of life. They wanted clear skies, less traffic, larger properties or acreages, their own piece of the American dream. With growth comes change, that is a given.

Ideas, creative approaches and solutions to help make our town prosper and grow in a positive way can come from unknown sources -- namely those who have chosen to be here. Draw from these resources.

We are all thinking, breathing beings. What may be good for some may not be good for others. Again, you can't please all of the people all of the time.

Involve the people, lay out the problem, idea or issue, give them their First Amendment right to freedom of speech, and allow their voices to be heard. Ask for their ideas and solutions.

You may be surprised at the outcome.