What's The Proper Role of An Effective Local Politician?
There is no formal playbook for the role of an effective local elected official. You need a stiff back, be slow to anger, and have a willingness to work with people, even when you disagree.
(I always enjoy volunteering for the Swim4Elise foundation.)
“Ronell, I expected more from you” was a constant refrain I heard during my first 18 months in office. Usually, the person making this statement didn’t know me before I ran for office, didn’t support me during the campaign, and ultimately didn’t vote for me.
So, you might ask, “Why did they expect a lot from you?”
When confronted with such statements, I shot back with, “Can you tell me what I did that offended or disappointed you?” In every single instance, the answer was an amalgam of “The entire council is conservative. Y’all are nothing but a good ol’ boys club.”
I always probed deeper upon hearing these non-sequiturs.
“Can you tell me one thing I’ve done as a councilman that made you say ‘His personal politics entered into his judgment?’” …Crickets.
What I learned—and it’s been corroborated numerous times in the last 18 months—is that, increasingly, people don’t separate the personal from the political. That is, many folks won’t like you if they don’t like your politics. However, not liking you isn’t the biggest problem; that they won’t work to find common ground is the real bugaboo.
As you might imagine, this is hugely problematic for local elected officials who neither campaign on nor lead via political fiat.
Viewed through this prism, it’s easy to see how the purview of councilpersons can actually become constricted, even as our formal roles are quite broad.
The council functions as facilitators of our constituents, helping to connect “them to resources, services, and City departments,” in addition to “[administering the] City's goals, major projects and infrastructure improvements ranging from community growth and land use to finances and strategic planning. They serve as advocates for all Southlake residents.”
You can see how that last line is made more difficult when interactions are colored by politics.
My approach has remained unchanged, however. For as long as I am a resident, I will be a staunch supporter and/or defender of our kids, families, and businesses.
That’s the rock on which I’ll always stand.
Ultimately, I’m a facilitator.
Aside from my formal responsibilities as a councilman, I take very seriously the role of helping members of the community reach their goals. Whether it’s partnering with the chamber to help small businesses, volunteering for a wonderful organization like Swim4Elise, or supporting our kids at school functions, sporting events, or during fund-raisers, being a facilitator is a responsibility I take very seriously.
And, guess what? I don’t know and don’t care about the politics of those I help or seek to help.
That attitude has worked wonders in my interactions with folks who’ve in the past shared the “I expected more from you” comments. I’ve shifted the conversation by asking them a question: “What can we do together to build a stronger, more cohesive community?”
I’ve defined my role as a local elected official, and it’s one I’m happy with.
So, I ask each of you, “What can we do together to build a stronger, more cohesive community?”