Lange — If you want to make a difference, consider running

By Coun. TINA LANGE/

FROM CITY HALL/ COLUMN — It may seem like the local election signs just came down.

In fact, local politicians are now winding up their three-year terms.

The province will again be under sign siege as elections for city councils, school boards and regional districts take place this fall. Nov. 15 is voting day across B.C.

The chit-chat about who is running, who is not running and who should be running is starting to dominate coffee-shop conversations. Have you ever given it thought?

You know what I mean. Those times when some local issue got you excited and you thought, “I should run because I’d like to make some changes.”

Followed by, “I would be better than that bunch of idiots!”

And that’s the thing — people who get up the nerve to mount a campaign believe they can do a better job.

This past June, Kamloops council had a photo taken with a Grade 4 class from St. Ann’s Academy. They were winners of the B.C. Sustainable Energy Association’s Climate Change Showdown.

I had a conversation with Angelina, one of the students. She asked me, ‘Did you always know you would be this?’

I answered yes because, in truth, I always did know. Not that I would be a City councillor, but that I would be a person who stood up for what I believed. I learned early that one voice can have an impact on change.

In Grade 5, I asked to be a crossing guard. Those were the students with orange coats and stop signs helping students to safely cross the street. My teacher told me that only boys could be crossing guards.

If you know me, you’ll know I was not about to accept that nonsense.

I went to the principal, who told me there was nothing he could do because it was school-board policy. I wrote a letter to the school board, explaining what a stupid policy it was.

Apparently, the board agreed because, several weeks later, there I was on the street, proudly wearing an orange coat and holding a stop sign. That was 50 years ago and I have remained a less-than-quiet voice of change ever since.

If you are a political junkie, have a passion for Kamloops or believe you would make good decisions, then consider running. I’ve had many different careers and being a councillor is one of the most interesting ones. There are times when I’ve thought it was a thankless job but, then again, I’ve thought that about all my jobs.

You do need to have thick skin and learn not to let things get to you.

Nomination packages are available and candidates have until Oct. 10 to file the papers.

Previously, local terms for office were three years but, starting with this election, the terms will be four years. The change to a longer term is believed to give opportunity for more efficient operations and be less of a financial burden on taxpayers.

The City of Kamloops has budgeted $126,000 for November’s election. That would equate to $42,000 per year for a three-year term and only $31,500 per year for a four-year term. For someone thinking about tossing their hat into the political ring, a four-year term means serious consideration about how being on council would impact their home and work life, as well as their finances.

A flexible schedule is a must as councillors need an average of 25 hours a week to adequately do the job. Of course, you will have already known this if this is the kind of person you are.

See you on the campaign trail.

tlange@kamloops.com