Serving on City Council is not a job; it is a passion. It is not about the time you put in, nor is it about the paycheck that you receive; it is about caring.

Serving on City Council the first and third Thursday of each and every month is not the only thing you do when elected.

Each council member serves on various committees. We have councilors on Planning and Zoning, DDA, Finance, Rivers and Trails, Parks and Recreation, the Liquor Board, RTA, the Chamber, Transportation and several other boards.

Council meets semi-monthly with the county commissioners, we meet with CDOT on occasion and various other special meetings as they are called.

Our home phone number and our e-mail address are available to all. Daily we are approached about some issue, nightly we are called.

One would never do this for a job. It truly takes a passion about your community to do it.

Often, when people are asked why they are serving or running for office, they respond, “To give something back to my community.”

This is by far a truer statement than they realize.

City government is the most approachable form of government in our country. City government has the least bureaucracy to deal with, its actions have immediate impact on its citizens, and it is accessible.

City government is an immediate extension of the people. It is truly representative democracy at work.

Reading the Sept. 2 Post editorial one could get the idea that serving on council is a negative thing. It is not.

The pay, the time involved, the reactions by the public are all part of a wonderful experience that serving on City Council affords you. It is an honor and a privilege to serve a community such as Glenwood Springs.

The surprise to me is that too few are running for council, too few are volunteering for committee seats.

During town meetings we never lack in folks willing to voice their opinion. These are good people with good ideas and legitimate concerns. Why doesn’t this “civic mindedness” translate into more people willing to be public servants?

I think it is because of their concerns about the negative aspects that are attributed to serving.

My suggestion to any of you is don’t hold back, don’t be swayed by fears of what may be negative, don’t worry about the time it will take.

Look inside yourself. If you have that feeling of community, if you care for what goes on, if you want to be part of it; put yourself out there.

On this journey through life, there is no greater good than to serve our fellow man/woman.

– Rick Davis is nearing the end of his first four-year term on the Glenwood Springs City Council, and is seeking re-election. His opponent is Joe O’Donnell.