Editorial

    In many ways, the most important elections are local elections.
    That new release time for local schools? Decided by the Orinda Unified School District Board of Trustees.
    The larger class sizes at Miramonte? Decided by the Acalanes Unified School District Board of Trustees.
    How much new housing will be allowed in Orinda? Decided by the Orinda City Council.
    All of these decisions impact not only our daily lives but also other decisions as well. Money spent in one place is money that cannot be spent somewhere else. Resources applied in one area are resources unavailable for another. Choices about school bell schedules impact everything from commute times to evacuation procedures in case of a wildfire.
    And what matters, in the end, is not the decision itself, but the way it is made.
    Does the OUSD Board of Trustees include members who see things differently? Does the AUHSD Board of Trustees include members with different agendas? Does the Orinda City Council include members who look at the world from different angles?
    They should. They all should.
    The world is a complex place, and simple solutions are rare. Differing points of view lead to more nuanced responses to complicated issues. Disagreements can highlight what’s truly important.
    All of this is why it’s so critical for Orinda’s citizens to do more than just complain about decisions that are made by local agencies, and in fact do more than just vote. The city and our schools need people who care enough to run for office, to get out in the public arena and ensure that decisions are made that take into account as many factors as possible.
    Too often in recent years, Orinda elections have been uncontested.
    There might be two openings, and only two people run. This is both dangerous and a little bit sad. Democracy needs discussion, and candidates should be forced to defend their ideas and principles in a public forum – not just submit some signatures and get elected.
    And when it comes to the high school district, not one Orinda resident is on the school board because not one Orinda resident was motivated enough to run for office.
    On Tuesday, Nov. 3, seats for all three public agencies will be on the ballot. Potential candidates have until Aug. 7 to put their names on that ballot, though realistically, the time to start preparing for a fall campaign is now.
    We urge Orinda’s citizens to seriously consider running for office, despite the work, despite the cost, despite the public scrutiny. Democracy does not function without citizens committed enough to their communities to rise above the obstacles and contribute their voices to political campaigns as candidates.
    Though state and national elections get most of the attention, we should not forget that our daily lives are most affected by the decisions of the people who are elected to local governing bodies.
    And there is no question we will be better served by those local agencies if those who lead them have had to compete for those spots rather than simply submitting a few signatures in late summer.