It is becoming increasingly difficult for local governmental entities to find willing citizens to run for pubic office, particularly in rural communities. The problem is even more pronounced with entities like Municipal Water Districts. Filing for many civic offices began Monday, Feb. 9, in most cities and at the Lake Travis Independent School District.

Serving in public office certainly is not easy. It is time-consuming — then there’s dealing with the public and the press. Typically, there isn’t any pay involved and in general, it is a royal headache.
Yet it is this the willingness for self-sacrifice that makes a democracy like ours thrive. This is true from the courtroom to the battlefield. We revel and evolve thanks to the rule of law. But there is no rule of law in the absence of government.
Thomas Paine, whose writing influenced the very foundations of this nation, put it best when he wrote, “Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil…”
But Paine came to the conclusion that government’s necessity is without doubt.
In recent years, many civic governments have been forced to literally recruit — even beg — members of its community to serve. There are so few willing to put themselves on the line for public service that elections are often canceled. It is this very apathy that Paine warned would lead to “intolerable” government.
This newspaper believes public service is a noble calling, but moreover, a necessary one. It is the opinion of this newspaper that we, as journalists, are merely public servants ourselves. As John F. Kennedy said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”
In these trying times our nation needs good people to step forward and provide leadership at every level of society. So we encourage residents to run for public office. Yes, you might lose, but there is no shame in that. The only shame is not even attempting to serve.

— Charles McClure
Editor
Lake Travis View
news@ltview.com