Daily Herald opinion: Consider running for election to the offices that directly affect our quality of life

This editorial represents the consensus opinion of the Daily Herald Editorial Board

At the end of a long and contentious midterm election campaign, it's understandable if you're less than excited about another round of candidates waiting in the wings to get your attention, this time for local municipal and school board races.

Still, it's especially important to rise above any election fatigue and start preparing to hear from your friends and neighbors about why they are running to make decisions that help shape and determine the quality of life in our communities.

Indeed, we encourage you to consider joining them while there's still time to get on the April 4, 2023, ballot.

For most suburbs, candidates can begin filing petitions to run for office on Monday, Dec. 12. The filing period ends on Monday, Dec. 19. That gives you nearly three weeks in which to offer your time and talents to make a difference in the policies and practices that involve everything from how your sidewalks and streets get repaired to the quality of education your children receive.

We acknowledge from the start, and you'll quickly realize if you don't know already, that these are difficult and often unenviable jobs. A leader can't help but anger some people when making tough decisions in controversial situations that affect their lives, and that can lead to emotional complaints and stress.

But the work does carry rewards that cannot be duplicated in any other endeavor. There's a special sense of pride in knowing you accomplished something that makes our communities better, that you tackled a difficult problem and worked with your neighbors to achieve a solution with impact that will last long after you've left office.

Rita Payleitner, who served three terms on the St. Charles City Council, described it this way in a recent letter to the editor: Sure, it takes a dose of bravery to run for office. "Win or lose, (running for local office) is a very rewarding experience. I can't think of a better way to serve your community, love your community or get to know your community ..."

And she added another important point: "Don't be discouraged by (appeals for more candidates). I can assure you, having an opponent or two will make you a better candidate and ultimately a better office holder."

Indeed, one of the great challenges for local communities is the need to find people to serve. In an analysis in 2017, we found that only 30 percent of offices up for election - less than one-third - had contested races. We found 150 suburban races that didn't even have enough candidates to fill all the seats on the ballot.

Our communities need robust debates and abundant, diverse ideas in order to accomplish new things and solve old problems. The fewer people who jump into the fray, the less opportunity we have to achieve our best.

World- and nation-shaping campaigns like a presidential or consequential midterm election naturally stir everyone's emotions and compel our attention. But in many ways, less-visible local offices have a more direct influence on our lives and offer us the chance to affect them more directly.

So, why not consider getting into the ring? Whether you win or lose, our communities will be better for your participation.