By Roger Boughton

Austin City Council

My tenure as an Austin City Council member comes to a satisfying conclusion at the end of the year.

My term is up and yours can begin. There are quite a few myths about being a council member that I would like to put to rest. I believe those myths exist as we who are council members like our jobs and would prefer not to have any competition at election time.

Myth No. 1: You must have experience in government or as an elected official to be effective as a council person. Not true! Often times the best council person is the individual who comes to the position without any previous elected experience. They come with an open mind with just one thought in mind; to do the very best that they can to represent their neighbors, friends and colleagues. They bring common sense and a willingness to learn the ropes. A fresh look at the city and how it works is just what is needed.

Myth No. 2: They have busy lives and taking on one more responsibility with so many challenging duties, time commitments and responsibilities would be too large of a burden. Not true! It has been my experience that if I receive several telephone calls a month from Austin citizens that it is a busy month other than when you are challenged with a new logo. The two council meetings take up about seven hours a month. I find myself spending this much time at McDonald’s having coffee with my friends during the month.

Myth No. 3: It costs a lot of money to run for a council position. Not true. Most individuals are not aware that council members receive a salary of $550 per month for each month that they hold office. This more than pays for expenses to attend meetings or to run for office. The citizens of Austin respect and vote accordingly for the individual who runs for office with the right reasons and willingness to be of service to their fellow citizens and not how many pamphlets or signs show up in yards or doors at election time.

Myth No. 4: The longer the person is in office, the better the person is as an elected official. Through personal experience I found this myth not to be true. I ran for office because the previous individual had been in office 25 years. I firmly believed that two terms or a maximum of eight years is sufficient to be of assistance to your community. You’re in office longer than two terms and your reason for being in office subtly changes. It is my opinion that you view and look at policy and individuals differently. You become focused on the next election rather than what’s good for the community now and long term.

I will not be running for office in the New Year. However, I will be willing to help others who are thinking of running for office. It is a wonderful experience and filled with far more “good” feelings than experiences that are less than enjoyable.

We need the average Joe or Mary citizen to run for office and to bring with them their common sense and willingness to dig in to get the job done. The council is a much stronger council when it is made up of individuals who represent the entire community, use common sense and bring a fresh perspective to the problems and concerns of the city of Austin.

Now, average citizen, run for office this fall. You will enjoy the experience and will find it rewarding. The community will thank you and you will make Austin a better community. The candidate filing period is May 20 to June 3, 2014.