Marin must do more to recruit future candidates
There's a myth that flocks of qualified would-be candidates are eager to run for municipal, county and special district elected offices.
The reality, especially in a middle-class place like Marin, is that each year it becomes ever more difficult to recruit men and women to run for local office.
The lack of council candidates sufficient to create a contest just happened in Mill Valley and occurred in Larkspur's 2019 election. It's a consistent event in low-profile elections for school trustees and special-purpose district directors.
In that event, whoever shows up, files papers complete with a small number of registered voters signatures and pays the minimal filing fee is automatically elected and charged with guiding their community's future.
It's always a gamble that just one of those who took these simple steps isn't a certified nutcase.
In both Mill Valley and Larkspur, those who did file for the open offices were, by a stroke of good fortune, well qualified.
In Mill Valley, three council seats were set to be voted on this June. One is for a short twoyear term due to an incumbent resigning along with two full four-year posts.
Councilmember Jim Wickham, a former Mill Valley police lieutenant, opted to run for the two-year seat after which he plans to retire. Given his leadership during the COVID-19 emergency and the post-George Floyd murder outcry, it's little surprise Wickham is unopposed.
An uncontested election wasn`t expected for the other two posts as Mill Valley has long enjoyed a reputation for wellfought council elections. This year, only appointed incumbent Stephen Burke and newcomer Max Perrey filed. They'll be automatically elected.
While all three are qualified, the fact that none of them will face the “give and take” of an election is a loss to both citizenry and council members.
The lack of competition isn't due to the scarcity of hot issues. Auto congestion on East Blithedale Avenue, state Legislature housing mandates and the everpresent danger of wildland fire are all sufficiently important to dominate multiple community debates.
Those parleys now won't happen because of the lack of an electoral forum. Likewise those candidates who will be sworn in can't earn the mandate to pursue their policies that's achieved only as a result of a true ballot box victory.
Larkspur faced the same dilemma in 2019. No incumbent filed for reelection. The city was lucky. Two little known individuals, Gabe Paulson, a software business owner, and Scot Candell, a lawyer who has advised cannabis businesses, filed at the last minute. In short order they became exemplary members on a council in serious need of new blood.
Luck is not a good long-term strategy to determine any town, county or school district's leadership.
In idealized America, smalltown council elections are accompanied by candidate debates and door-to-door campaigning, all of which generate interest in town affairs. Candidates personally meet voters if they want to win, learn what's on their mind. That's how representative government should work.
The importance of candidate recruitment can't be overestimated. It's as basic as urging an involved neighbor to consider running for council. The business community might encourage colleagues to apply for city commissions, the classic first step to foster future council candidacies.
Many Marinites contend current officials don't represent their more fiscally conservative views. There's a point when that valid criticism needs to turn to electoral action.
In historically underrepresented communities, nonprofits, unions and churches should foster interest in local affairs and mentor potential candidates.
This is an unmet need particularly among Marin's sizable Latino population. In Sonoma, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce plays that role well in a county with more than 6,700 Latino owned businesses.