Why does no one step up to serve?

When voters go to the polls in November, there won’t be any choices for Pea Ridge, Garfield or Gateway voters because none of the seats had opposition.

In Avoca, there is one contested race as two people running for one seat — Council position 2.

It may seem absurd to state the obvious, but we live in a free country where we elect our leaders. What purpose does that freedom serve if we refuse to run for office?

Why is no one running — too busy, lazy, complacent or hopeless?

Throughout the year, people complain about government — local as well as county, state and federal.

People complain about roads, taxes, traffic, water rates, trash service and a myriad of other things.

The rules that govern the city — whether it be the tax rates or ordinances governing dogs, fireworks, zoning — are approved by the City Council, the legislative branch of the government. Those rules can be, and often are, changed.

It may seem out of reach to make a difference on a state or national level, but any one of us can make a difference on a local level.

It’s been said that if you’re not a part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. Which do you want to be?

The city’s Parks Commission was disbanded partly because of the lack of volunteers to serve.

The people currently holding city office are busy people with demands from work and family, too. They serve because they see the need and want to help guide the city into one of which we can all be proud.

Pea Ridge has changed and grown considerably. Every day there is ground broken for a new business, a new subdivision. The school is housed in five buildings instead of the one downtown. Those changes necessitate changes in governance.

Can you, will you make a difference in our community?

Editor’s note: Annette Beard is the managing editor of The Times of Northeast Benton County, chosen the best small weekly newspaper in Arkansas for five years. A native of Louisiana, she moved to northwest Arkansas in 1980 to work for the Benton County Daily Record. The opinions expressed are those of the author. She can be reached at abeard@ nwaonline.com.