January 2009 saw the impeachment of Gov. Blagojevich.
Two weeks into my first term on the Elgin City Council, I arrived at city hall to introduce myself to employees. I wanted to get to know staff and was anxious to learn about the institution for which I would be making policy.
Shortly thereafter I received a phone call from the city manager’s office. Seems that one of the employees was intimidated by my visit.
By me?
It wasn’t my words that caused the employee to feel intimidated. It was his perception of the motivation behind my visit. Where I just wanted to say hello and make connections—you know, put faces to the names—he saw me as flexing muscle.
I never thought of myself an intimating character, but by virtue of my new position I had just become one. There were many lessons learned that day, but the one that stuck with me all these years was that I possessed a level of power inherent in my political position and that I had to take care in using it.
Throughout the next 10 years of public service, I remained cognizant of the power that I wielded and used it to benefit my constituents, not intimidate them. Being a good custodian of the public trust requires knowing your role and respecting that power. Whether as a City Council or General Assembly member, voters had given me proxy to act on their behalf. I worked for them, not for a personal desire to wield power, and not expecting anything from them in return.
When I hear about elected leaders requiring some kind of payback before providing representation, it sets me off. Those elected to represent you should not require donations, letters to the editor, fundraising assistance, volunteers for campaigns, or anything else for that matter before they do their jobs! Period. Some think this type of behavior is a foregone conclusion. They’ve even come to expect it.
They shouldn’t. This behavior is not pervasive and it is certainly not a given. Not if voters reject it. Empowered voters are the key to transforming government and ridding our community of leaders who think voters owe them.
Individuals and organizations should not to give into intimidation and pay-for-play politics. Look what it did for our last two former governors; one is in jail and the other was impeached and facing jail time if convicted. Refusing to give into political leaders’ demands may present a dilemma for some who need government funding to provide vital services. But, in not giving in to intimidation, we send a strong message for the politicians to come. We can have a role in changing the culture of corruption in this state simply by rejecting the notion that a little bit of corruption is expected.
It is NOT okay to be pressed for favors by elected representatives as an incentive for them to do their jobs. If it happens to you, please tell someone. Contact the states attorney, a journalist, or the Better Government Association. Or, if you’re unsure where to go or how to handle the situation, send me a message.
Power is in the ability to influence outcomes. As a voter, you have considerable power to influence what politics will look like now and in the future.
