Want to make a difference? Run for council

Mayor, three city council seats up for election this year

If you have ever wanted to make a difference in our community, now is your chance.

Four city council seats will be on the ballot this year. Mayor Doug Nicholls, Deputy Mayor Gary Knight and city council member Bill Craft all intend to seek another term, while council member Gary Wright does not plan on running again.

Serving as an elected official isn’t an easy job. It comes with a certain amount of public scrutiny that can be uncomfortable, because it’s nearly impossible to satisfy every single member of the community with every single decision and vote. It’s necessary to have a thick skin, and a confidence in one’s decision-making abilities.

Those who choose to run for office must be willing to dedicate their time, too. The Yuma City Council has regularly scheduled meetings that can last hours, and preparing for those meetings takes time. And then there are meetings with constituents, public events, meetings with other entities … the list goes on and on.

Our elected officials at City Hall do not serve for the pay. The mayor’s salary is $12,000 annually, while each council member makes $3,600 annually. Officials run for office and serve because they care.

But most of all, those who run for office need to be passionate about Yuma, and must truly be willing to put the city’s needs as a whole first and foremost, at all times.

To be a strong elected official, one has to set one’s personal beliefs aside, and make decisions for the good of the order.

If elected, the terms run from Jan. 1, 2018, through Dec. 31, 2021. Nomination petitions must contain between 242 and 403 signatures of qualified city electors and should be turned in to the Yuma City Clerk’s Office between May 1 and May 31.

The job is often thankless, and the pay is low, but the work itself can be immensely rewarding. There are a variety of ways in which Yumans can have an impact on our community, but serving on the Yuma City Council is one of the greatest — and also, one of the toughest.

Now is your chance to make a difference Yuma. If you are passionate about our community and willing to serve, selflessly, stop by Yuma City Hall and start the process today.

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