Sounding Off -- Tim Geddes
Between May Day (May 1) and Independence Day (July 4) a number of
prospective candidates will make up their minds to run for Huntington
Beach City Council this year. Predictably, a few dozen hopefuls will wind
up on the November ballot (especially if there are four open seats).
This will make for a long and confusing campaign. The key for
Huntington Beach voters will be to focus on the candidates who are best
equipped to lead our city through the period of unprecedented challenge
and opportunity we are now facing.
Here are 10 questions these council hopefuls should be asking
themselves:
1. How well prepared am I to be a leader? What leadership skills do I
possess?
2. Am I a problem solver? Am I prepared to seek answers and address
concerns, or will I just “deal” with issues?
3. What kind of vision do I have for the city over the next eight
years?
4. How well do I know what the duties and responsibilities of a City
Council member are?
5. How well does my background prepare me for serving in public
office?
6. How well does my business or community affairs experience translate
into civic expertise?
7. How well do I know and understand local interests, citywide
concerns, and regional issues?
8. How well do I know the city administrator and other key city staff
members?
9. How prepared am I to make quality appointments to the city boards
and commissions that are entrusted to me?
10. How prepared am I to make decisions that are honest, ethical, and
fair?
For the past two years, I have been pushing for programs to help
emerging civic leaders in Huntington Beach to prepare themselves for
roles in either elected or appointed office. They have ranged from
establishing a community leadership program called Leadership Huntington
Beach to offering city-based programs on civic leadership issues. So far,
only empty promises and empty wallets from the city. The candidates for
our new city leadership are pretty much on their own.
So are the voters in evaluating the leadership capacities of a new
crop of hopefuls.
I guess I would ask those thinking of running for the City Council
during this pre-campaign period of introspection to ask themselves one
question. To paraphrase Clint Eastwood’s character in Dirty Harry, “Do I
feel qualified?” Well, do ya candidate?
TIM GEDDES is a Huntington Beach resident. To contribute to Sounding
Off fax us at (714) 965-7174 or e-mail us at o7 hbindy@latimes.comf7
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