As most people know, a provincial election is coming in Alberta this October.
At this point, there will be at least three openings on Vauxhall town council.
Lee Green, who vacated his seat earlier this year, will need to be replaced, along with two other councillors who will not be running again for a new term.
Peter Van Uden and Clay Farnsworth have told The Advance they will not seek re-election this fall, which means Vauxhall town council will see some turnover for the next term.
The question becomes, however, what type of interest will there be among locals to fill those vacant seats? In small towns, it can be difficult to attract people interested in running for municipal office.
The money is not great,  the hours require some evening meetings and, last but not least, you are going to get your fair share of grief from the public.
Certainly, there are challenges associated with being a town councillor, no matter what size of community you are dealing with in this country.
But on the other side of the coin, it can be an extremely valuable experience. Not only are you at the ground level of the decision-making process, but the opportunity is there to learn as much as you want about the inner workings of your town.
You hear it all the time — people complaining about their elected officials and the bureaucrats that carry out their wishes.
Now, here in front of you, is an opportunity to make a difference, and be on the other side of the fence. Valuable contributions can be made by every-day citizens by throwing their hat into the ring and running for council.
Who knows — it could be a job you enjoy immensely, and may translate into a career in politics. Until you take the leap, you may never know. With the nominations deadline coming up, residents should think about running.