Editorial: The value of public service | Raleigh News & Observer

We hear it all the time: Those dad-blamed politicians are at it again.

At the local government level, in most cases at least, the political leaders of our community are serving for the right reasons. They want to make their community better. They aren’t looking to feather their own nests or stick it to someone who caused them trouble earlier in life. There are certainly no party labels.

Still, some of us believe we don’t want the stigma that comes with having the politician’s label attached to our name.

But there are plenty of ways people can serve their communities without having to run for elected offices.

A story in last week’s Garner-Cleveland Record highlighted the need for people to apply for seats on one of a number of advisory boards that serve the town and tackle important issues.

The responsibilities are not terribly fierce in most cases. Advisory board members will not likely spend two or three nights per week in meetings.

But they will render a valuable service to everyone who lives in the community. Questions of what services our parks and recreation department should offer or when it’s OK to forego development rules have a significant impact on everyone.

And because of the specific nature of the advisory panels, volunteers can serve in areas that match their own personal interests. If veteran services aren’t your cup of tea, then you don’t have to apply to serve on the veterans committee. If your children are playing every sport under the sun, the parks and recreation committee might be for you.

Whatever your interest, a town only gets better when the people who live there take an active role in making it better.

Advisory boards are an important – and rewarding – way to do that.

So we hope you will consider where your interests are and seek out ways to serve the larger community through your knowledge and expertise.

Call it part of a citizen’s responsibility.