Musings: On the editor's mind

A school board and a town council walked into a bar.

They had the usual litany of concerns and hand wringing: underfunded, under resourced, underappreciated, not understood.

“They come to our meetings and hammer us with their complaints,” the board started out.

“Right,” agreed the council, looking into their beers. “They not only question but criticize our decisions. It’s as if they don’t know what we are doing. They just don’t get it,” they said, nodding to each other in knowing affirmation.

“Questions and complaints. Complaints and questions. Do they think we’re not paying attention?” The board shook their heads in unison.

“You folks,” a council member volunteered, “are doing your homework, are attending bi-weekly study sessions, pass resolutions unanimously without comment. That’s efficient. You are getting the job done.”

“It’s always the usual suspects, those citizens wanting us to do it their way,” replied the board.

“Boy, say that again.” They all nodded in agreement. “Notice how the same few residents show up time after time. What, they don’t trust us?”

“We check, you, know? We’re following the letter of the law,” a council member pointed out. “Everything we do is legal. That is not enough above board for them?”

“It’s the same with our public comment periods,” said a board member. “We read the same statement every time. It is not like we are surprising them. They get three minutes to say anything they want. Before they start, the board chair let’s them know we will not respond.”

“Just like us,” replied the council: “The letter of the law.”

“Aside from the few complainers, we are in pretty good shape,” a council member said confidently. “We filed for reelection. It’s all over but counting the days till election day. No need to worry about votes. No one signed up to run. That’s affirmation, right? Unanimous approval from our fellow citizens. Our critics aren’t running. All is ok in La Conner.”

“Seems right to me,” affirmed the board. “It’s usually been the same for us. We file for election. Typically, there is no opposition. We figure we are all right with the community. Otherwise, there would be opposition at the ballot box.”

At that minute a small crowd came through the bar door with a bit of noise and commotion. Seeing the group filling the bar counter they came up to them. “Fellow citizens,” said one, “have you had a chance to sign our petitions? We checked with the county elections office. They said if we gather the required number of signatures, we can file as write in candidates. We will have two slates to provide a choice for voters. What do you say?”

The school board looked at the town council. The council looked back at the board. In unison they got up and walked away, not saying a word.