Showing up still matters

Local conversations are a reminder that government has limits, but community service does not

One of the most encouraging parts of this campaign season has been the conversations.

I have appreciated the phone calls, the questions, the encouragement and even the concerns residents have shared with me. Some people want to talk about growth. Some want to talk about roads. Some ask about taxes, schools, law enforcement, libraries, planning, transparency or how decisions are made.

I have been humbled by those conversations because they remind me that people are paying attention. They care about Putnam County. They want good information. They want straight answers.

They also remind me that one of the most important things any candidate can do is be honest about what the office they are seeking can — and cannot — do.

I recently came across an old high school photo of myself serving as parliamentarian. I am standing near the door in a yellow top — big hair and all. It may not be the most flattering photo, but it has meaning to me.

It reminded me that my interest in meetings, process, government and service did not begin with this campaign. I have always been involved in some way — whether through school leadership, covering public meetings, publishing community news, organizing events or trying to help connect people with information.

At the heart of all of it is the same belief: communities are better when people are involved.

Showing up matters. Asking questions matters. Listening matters. Giving back matters.

That is true in government, but it is also true far beyond government.

As I have talked with residents, there have been times when someone has asked me about something that matters deeply to them, and the honest answer is: “That may not be something a county commissioner can directly control.”

That does not mean it is unimportant. It does not mean their concern should be dismissed. It simply means we have a responsibility to understand how local government works.

County commissioners are not mayors. They are not school board members. They are not city council members. They do not manage the day-to-day operations of every county department. They do not direct every elected office. They do not control every road, every utility, every school decision or every issue inside a city limit.

But county commissioners do have important responsibilities.

They vote on the county budget. They vote on the property tax rate. They appropriate money for county departments and agencies. They make decisions that affect planning, zoning in unincorporated areas, county services and long-term priorities. They serve on committees, review requests, ask questions and represent the people of their district in the legislative business of the county.

That matters.

A county commissioner may not be able to personally fix every problem, but a good commissioner should help residents find the right office, ask the right questions and understand the right process.

That is the kind of service I believe people deserve.

When someone calls with a concern, the answer should not be political spin. It should not be a promise that cannot be kept. It should be honest, helpful and respectful.

Sometimes the right answer is, “That is a city issue.” Sometimes it is, “That falls under the school board.” Sometimes it is, “That is handled by an independently elected county official.” Sometimes it is, “That is a state issue.” And sometimes it is, “Yes, that is something the county commission should be discussing.”

Knowing the difference matters.

It matters because government works best when voters know who is responsible. It matters because promises should match the authority of the office. It matters because trust is built when leaders tell people the truth, even when the answer is not as simple as we would like.

But these conversations have also reminded me of something else.

Government has limits, but community service does not.

This week, I have thought about that as I have seen and heard about the good work happening around us — from veterans being honored with Quilts of Valor to upcoming community events like Painting with the Stars, where local people use creativity, time and talent to support something bigger than themselves.

Those moments matter, too.

At a recent American Legion Post 46 meeting, veterans Herbie Scarlett and Bobby Greenwood were honored with Quilts of Valor. I learned more about the care and meaning behind that presentation. A Quilt of Valor is not simply a gift. It is awarded. It is made by hand. It is meant to offer comfort, healing and gratitude to a service member or veteran who has been touched by war.

We were reminded there is a difference between a blanket and a quilt. A blanket is typically one layer. A quilt has three — a top, batting and backing — stitched together with purpose.

That stayed with me.

A Quilt of Valor is more than fabric. It represents time, skill, prayer, gratitude and respect. It is one way ordinary citizens say, “Your service mattered. Your sacrifice is remembered.”

The respect paid to our veterans is never enough.

We can never say thank you enough. We can never fully repay those who served, those who sacrificed and those who carried burdens most of us will never understand. But we can pause. We can honor them. We can show up. We can teach the next generation to do the same.

That is not something government alone can accomplish.

The same is true when artists, volunteers and community members come together for events like Painting with the Stars. Those efforts remind us that a strong county is not built only in meeting rooms. It is built in veterans halls, churches, schools, galleries, ball fields, businesses, neighborhoods and kitchen tables.

It is built by people who give what they have — their time, their talent, their voice, their service.

Good government should respect that. It should not try to replace the work of families, churches, civic groups, nonprofits, volunteers or neighbors. It should create an environment where those things can flourish.

I believe local elections matter most because local government is closest to the people. It is where citizens can still show up, ask questions, read the agenda, attend a committee meeting, talk to their commissioner and see how votes are cast.

But that only works when we understand the roles.

A county commissioner should listen. A county commissioner should study the budget. A county commissioner should ask hard questions. A county commissioner should respect taxpayers. A county commissioner should understand growth and infrastructure. A county commissioner should be accessible, prepared and willing to work with others.

A county commissioner should also know the limits of the office.

That may not make for the flashiest campaign promise, but I believe it is one of the most important promises a candidate can make: to tell the truth about what can be done, what cannot be done and who needs to be brought to the table.

The conversations I have had this week have encouraged me. They have also challenged me. Every question is an opportunity to listen, learn and help.

That is what public service should be.

Local government should not feel distant or confusing. It should be open enough for people to understand, close enough for people to question and honest enough for people to trust.

As this election season continues, I hope more residents will keep asking questions — not just of me, but of every candidate.

Ask what the office can do. Ask what it cannot do. Ask how the budget works. Ask where your tax dollars go. Ask who makes which decisions. Ask whether a promise being made is actually within the authority of the office.

Those are fair questions.

And voters deserve fair answers.