Being good public servants

Last Thursday was the swearing in ceremony for the elected officials who won races in the November General Election. With the new year now comes new leadership in some key roles for Sanders County. We have two brand new commissioners and a new sheriff.

I’m excited for the future of Sanders County, but also a little nervous. You get in a routine and you get used to how things are run. Sanders County is quite diverse in many aspects, and finding the balance in public service is tricky. You definitely can’t please everyone. I hope our elected leaders will listen to the public and be open to new ideas. However, I also hope they remember they were elected for a reason, including experience and education and commitment to the residents of the county.

When you’re in an elected position, or any position of authority, it’s easy to get distracted and lose focus. I’m a big idea person. I enjoy setting pie-in-the-sky goals. It’s fun to dream. But it’s also rewarding to step back and see what’s realistic and setting attainable goals. So my advice to the elected officials would be to set attainable goals and in turn not make impossible promises. It would be fantastic to get every mile of county road paved or rid the county of any illegal drugs or crimes. What our elected officials can strive for is to do better for the residents of Sanders County and leave it better after their tenure is up.

When interviewing outgoing sheriff Tom Rummel last week at the swearing in ceremony, he advised newly sworn in sheriff Shawn Fielders to listen to the people. That is an important part of being a public servant. It’s vital for any elected official to provide high quality customer service. Answer phone calls and emails, return messages and take time to listen to the people who elected you. In turn, do what you say you’re going to do and don’t just tell people what they want to hear. Work hard, be honest, and do what’s right for Sanders County.

­ ­— Annie Wooden