Community Resource Specialist, David Hill.

THE GOOD PUBLIC SERVANT

We sometimes hear that government is inattentive to the needs of people. It's too busy watching over our shoulder and dealing with what we can't do versus what we can do. Try to think of the last of the last time you heard or made the statement that government is listening to what the people, or the little guy, are saying. Was it during the township meeting, at city council, or the county commissioners meeting?

Did it happen at the county-wide forum to solicit input into the development of a human services plan or a highway routing proposal? Possibly you just can't remember, but I hope this isn't the case. The flip side is were you well informed on the issue of particular concern to your individual or group interest? Democracy is a participatory form of government but it does demand an informed citizenry and public officials who help keep the public informed.

Former Missouri State Representative, Jim Sears, last news column and comments about him as a person and a public servant in the media since his death remind us of how it ought to be. His own comments and those of others recently, remind us of the type of representative government our forefathers envisioned and strove to perpetuate.

In reflecting upon the ways we have benefited through Jim's thoughtfulness and caring for others, we are reminded that for many, this perception of government is not reality. The stereotype tends to result in a vary narrow, one-sided perspective of government and one's participation in the act of governance.

Jim's successors face a tremendous challenge in measuring up to the expectations of the electorate accustomed to his brand of public service.

Sorting out the whys of these circumstances is difficult. I prefer to look at the opportunities offered to Jim's successor, as well as his colleagues in public service, to glean from the model he provided as your representative.

Let's take a look at some of those qualities:

Communication is essential if government is to be truly of, by, and for the people. Governance cannot occur if communication is one-sided.. If you agree with this premise, consider the following---When we deny, or are denied, our role in the communication process, we are not response---able. I did not say not responsible, I said not response---able. If, as I think Jim taught us, government does not give attention to the voices of its citizens, if it is not receptive to citizen input, then its citizens become unable to govern and cannot reach their maximum potential.

Conversely, when people deny their opportunity to actively communicate and govern, and thus to participate in their own governance, their potential as a society becomes limited.

Jim Sears provided his constituents with opportunities to be response---able. In case you missed it, he provided you with the opportunity to be and become your own agent's of change. Continue to move forward toward his vision of governance. Figure out ways of coping with the changes you cannot prevent in concert with your elected and appointed officials. Help them help you help others try to anticipate and prevent certain situations from occurring. Many of the issues constituents are concerned with revolve around problem-solving, in many settings, requiring expertise from multiple disciplines. Take a look at the committees Jim served on in the legislature that directly

affected concerns of people in his district.

Let me offer to you an outline I put together from a conversation I once had with Jim Sears, about those he worked with in a variety of settings. You can figure out you own "lessons learned" from what I recall from our discussion.

Item 1) Creativity - No one should be afraid to propose an idea. It may not be accepted in the original form but the group discussion, especially if it reaches consensus, usually turns someone's suggestion, be it program, how to conduct a campaign or rearrange to office, into a better idea. We should be able to disagree without becoming disagreeable.

Item 2) Co-worker communication must be good. Listen to one another. Encourage the constituents from all parties and independents to do the same. Try to keep the citizenry informed. Some, of course, are better at staying informed than others.

Item 3) In spite of the special interests of the residents of our individual districts, as a team northeast Missouri legislators have similar observations and values about families and communities across our region. This does vary, some however, with the age and experiences of each legislator and their staff members.
Item 4) Shared mutual concern about the survival of northeast Missouri as an viable economic entity.
Item 5) Shared desire to help people prepare to cope with the changes they may not know are occurring or will be occurring. Item 6) Try to take the time to involve the people you serve and
Item 7) Operate from the principle of a modern proverb secondarily cited in some leadership development materials: "When the people lead, leaders follow."

I reminded him that getting the people to lead is sometimes a challenge. I challenged him to reflect, even ponder how much "coaching" he was really doing to enhance the skills of those who also serve the public in various capacities. People like Jim Sears create a "followership" out of their concern for those they serve.

It's now up to the people of the Legislative District to find candidates capable of showing, the Show-Me-State, that District One will continue the tradition of good representation.