Advancement toward consensus in government results in non-movement, and inaction leading to consistency and stagnancy of intellect.

In establishing governments formed by elections-at-large, maintaining a status quo by staggering the numbers of a few to be up for election, we guarantee political immobility. This then becomes a good climate for non-thought, hesitancy, avoidance and government in a state of sleep. 

Candidates should inform the citizens as to how they will stimulate and maintain awakeness.   

I heard a trustee at a Shorewood Village Board meeting say that he was voting on a issue that was supported by his constituency.

When voted into office by an at-large vote, one wonders who his constituency is.  Are those opposed to his views on issues also his constituency? So then, how does he represent them? Don't the other trustees have the same constituency, the citizens at large? How does one represent more than one view when representing all the citizens, even those who didn't vote and those who voted for someone else?

Or is one's constituency the 20 or so who put their names to the papers for his run for office? Maybe he is referring to those who placed his signs in their yards? If this is the case, then, a lot of citizens are not represented.

I'd like to hear from trustees as to how they determine their constituencies. I'd like to hear, but I won't because I don't meet any of mentioned categories for constituency. I've voted for most the trustees. If they don't know that I have, how do they represent me or my views?

In attendance at the first Shorewood Village Board meeting of the month, I found that with only five members present that the Board acted more informally than during any of my other experiences. I've always thought that a 7-person board functions too ceremoniously in its actions. A five-member board seems to be just right

Besides, 60% of the trustees present were woman. Quite an achievement, equal representation at last.

Now that the Board will be coming up with a new budget and our program and spending priorities, our next major focus will be on two seats coming up for election. One element of excitement after another.