Posted by CharleneN on 10/25/09

Be a player in fostering freedom and restoring government to its constitutional bounds.  Get yourself appointed to one of the many policy boards and political commissions in your city or county.

There are all sorts of boards and commissions at the city and county level whose members are appointed.  We need to be working to get C4L members appointed to these boards.  The impact can be both immediate and long term. 

First, getting appointed to a board gives you a front row seat to the decisions being made in local government.  The attitudes of entitlement and elitism so common in our elected leaders don't burst full-grown in Washington DC.  They begin at the most local levels.  The longer they go unchecked the harder they are to stop. 

Board members have a voice in local ordinances and policy.  You will form relationships with the deciders in your community and can influence them.

Should you ever want to run for local or state office, serving on a commission or board is both a springboard and training ground for that. It gives you connections and credibility in the political arena.  It is a way to establish a reputation that the voter can rely on. 

These are some of the boards in our city and county:

Fargo City

Access Channel Board: hears matters related to programming on Fargo Access Channel 12

Airport Authority: responsible for operation and maintenance of airport

Auditorium Commission: responsible for operation and maintenance of Fargo Civic Center

Board of Adjustment: considers variances in zoning ordinances

Board of Appeals: duties include hearing appeals from citizens who feel Inspections Department made an error in applying a code requirement

Board of Health: oversees operations of Fargo Cass Public Health

Civil Service Commisson: protects merit system for city employees and ensures systems principles are upheld

Community Development Committee: makes recommendations to the City Commission regarding land development, including the use of economic incentives and grant funds

Fargodome Authority: responsible for operation and maintenance of Fargodome

Historic Preservation Commission: works toward preservation of historic buildings or areas

Housing and Redevelopment Authority: administers and provides low-income housing

Human Relation Commission: promotes acceptance and respect for diversity

Library Board: responsible for operation and maintenance of Fargo Public Library

Liquor Control Board: performs several functions related to the sale of alcohol in the City of Fargo

Native American Commission: works to strengthen the Native American community

Parking Commission: manages parking facilities to meet community needs

Planning Commission: considers land use, planning and zoning issues

Renewable Energy and Conservation Committee: investigates and suggests opportunities for the city to conserve natural resources and further its environmental stewardship

Special Assessment Commission: determines how costs of various improvements will be spread against each benefiting property

Tax-exempt Review Committee: evaluates applications from property owners for various property tax exemptions and economic incentives

Cass County

Planning Commission: reviews all subdivision plats in the unincorporated areas of the County (excluding inner 1/2 of extraterritorial areas) and makes recommendations to the County Commission.

Water Resource:  There are four water resource districts in Cass County that are responsible for water management, drainage and flood control issues.

Weed Board: established to control the spread of noxious weeds in Cass

County Park Board

Extra-territorial Zoning Board: decides planning and zoning issues for ET zones

Social Services Board

Cass County Housing Commission

As you can see from the descriptions of these boards and commissions, there are plenty of constitutional and freedom issues that are decided or influenced by these boards.  Why wait until a property rights question has to be decided in a landmark Supreme Court case when you can help stop abuses of property rights at the local level?

So, how do you find out about the boards and commissions that you might serve in your community?  Call your City or County Auditor or official in charge of elections and ask for a list and description of all boards and commissions.  You might also get this information from the Secretary for the City or County Council/Board/Commission.  Some city or county websites may have this information.   A search for "Boards" or "Commissions" may give you a good outline of your local government.

You need to ask questions.  When you talk to the Auditor or Council Secretary, get as much information as you can on the posts.  You'll want to know who makes the appointments and when.  What is the term of office?  Are there currently any unfilled positions that you can apply for now? 

How is the public notified of openings?  I found out about the opening for municipal judge by reading the ads in our local paper.  The City and County both advertise in the local "paper of record" but the County also sends out email bulletins that you can sign up for. 

What is the application and interview process?  Many posts go empty and community leaders will be happy just to have a warm body to fill the post.  But some of the more visible posts, such as Zoning and Planning, will have more competition.  Learn all you can to ensure you are a front-runner in the appointment process.  Improve your chances of getting appointed by talking to current or past board/commission members.  Find out from them what talents or traits make a good board member and what is expected.

What are the time demands of the post?  Some posts may require travel or frequent meetings that interfere with your paying job.  Most appointed board members serve without compensation.  Others may have a per diem or mileage compensation.

You don't have to be active in the party machinery or wait till Election Day to take your place at the political table and influence the direction your community takes.  Call today and find out where you can begin serving your community.  Don't wait to make your influence felt.  Chances are there's an empty post right now just waiting for  a good freedom-lover to fill.

Posted by CharleneN on 09/16/09

It doesn't take much to make an impact on the politics in your community.  If you've taken the Local Coordinator training, you've already taken a huge step to being an effective leader in your community.  Local Coordinator training will equip you with the information and resources you need to make a difference.

We've often talked about the three areas of involvement: party involvement, issue involvement and running for office.  Well, I've just taken the plunge and have become an office holder.  Today I was appointed the Municipal Judge for Casselton.  ND laws allow cities smaller than 5000 to have judges who are not attorneys.  I am filling an unexpired term, so I will be running for election in June 2010.

This is a small position.  I will only hear traffic and city ordinance violations (except for 3rd time DUIs.)  Court is held two times a month and many times there are no cases to hear.  But if anyone remembers the kerfuffle with David Habiger earlier this year, one aspect of his case (the junk cars in his yard) was decided in Casselton's municipal court.  So no Kelo vs. New London cases, but maybe smaller, lesser known, Habiger-type cases.

This wasn't hard at all.  In fact, it was embarrassingly easy.  Casselton ran an ad in the paper, I responded and sent in a resume.  Now remember, I am a SAHM.  I haven't held a real job in 18 years.  But I wrote up a resume that listed my political involvement and my community service (I volunteer at the library, local nursing home and have worked a lot in Cub Scouts.)  Apparently this was good enough for our City Commission, because I got appointed without an interview, based solely on my resume and my reputation. 

And now I'll have nine or ten months to further establish my reputation in the community before the next election.  I'll also be going to training in Bismarck and be meeting and networking with others in the state and local municipal system.  All of this is good experience and will make me more effective for future political races (mine or others I want to help along.)

So keep your eyes open.  There are lots of boards, commissions and committees you can get appointed to.  Some go begging to be filled and all will give you a door into the political process.  If a homeschooling mom from rural ND can get appointed as a municipal judge, you can easily do the same or similar.

Start today by getting the Coordinator Training.  And then attend local city or county council meetings, ask questions and find your place at the table.

Posted 09/09/09 Elaine Prairie City, OR

You are an inspiration, Charlene!

Posted 09/09/09 LawyerLynn Overland Park, KS

Charlene! I am so proud of you. After I read your post earlier tonight, I quickly wrote a letter to another C4L member who I went to law school with ... I went on about "small" - I just couldn't wait to tell him about you and send the link to your post. Here's part of what I wrote, and like Elaine says above: You are an inspiration. I am really proud of this lady, for some reason, maybe because it’s about small, but small is sometimes all it takes. Like the great battle at Thermopylae! A SMALL force of “Spartans, Thespians, and Thebans led by King Leonidas (approximately 300 were full Spartiates, 700 were Thespians, and 400 were Thebans; these numbers do not reflect casualties incurred prior to the final battle), made a legendary last stand at the Battle of Thermopylae against the massive Persian army, inflicting a very high casualty rate on the Persian forces before finally being encircled.” And, even though ultimately defeated, courageous they stood together until the end, one & all, losing only because of the treason of one greedy man. As SMALL as small can be, one greedy man, like Judas for his silver pieces, turned the tide. Packing the one mountain trail up from the sea, shoulder to shoulder they stood, shields interlocked & swords at the ready. A human barrier of protection against the invaders - the mighty Persian empire. But it wasn’t the only path to their city. Hidden in the rocks, was a small goat trail, known only to those who lived there. This scoundrel Judas sold his brothers, the Spartans, for a SMALL amount of money to show those Persians the back road up the mountain pass. On the other cheerier end of the scale, we’ve all heard stories of someone who didn’t commit suicide because another person showed one small amount of kindness or compassion or attention. You never can predict the magnitude of an unexpected show of even the smallest of gestures of courage, generosity or sincere compassion. Small is the new Big, eh?! How many times do we hesitate because we're "small" ??? Too small to make any difference. Who will listen to such a small crowd, small voice? Why should I talk to such a small audience? What difference can it make? Bob Marley was small - barely 5'4" and from small village, on small island. For the first years of his singing career he lived in a small closet in back of the small studio. His pay for years was small change. But he knew he had a purpose and a message. And he knew that if you have courage to step up to the mike, and keep going even if everything is small, at some point, small + small + small .... gets big. CONGRATS to C4L's newest judge! Charlene! /s/ Lynn Roberts

Posted 09/16/09 LibertyMage Baltimore, MD

This is excellent! Congratulations!

Posted 09/16/09 Scott from PA Hopwood, PA

It sounds to me that you had a real job for 18 years - hope you do well and get re-elected to you present job. Congratulations!

Posted 09/16/09 Live4Freedom Saginaw, MI

Wow, what an inspiration you are! I've just recently joined the liberty movement and have been asking myself how I can help get this message out to the people who need to hear it most. You have shown me that no matter who you are or what you do, there is something that you can do to further the movement. Congratulations on your appointment, and I hope you can get re-elected to continue the work towards spreading freedom for all Americans. God Bless!

Posted 09/16/09 sonsofliberty Fargo, ND

Good job Charlene!! I remember listening to you speak at the double wood inn on 13th ave in the heart of the Ron Paul campaign primaries when you said that "I would not be here if I did not think we could win". Well you don't have to look to far to see that we have won. The seed has been planted and liberty is starting to spread, a great organization spawned from liberty has formed, and 1207 has a hearing date! So I would like to thank you Charlene for your hard work and for your love of this country. Thank You!!

Posted 09/16/09 Adam de Angeli Ann Arbor, MI

Wonderful entry, Charlene. It is difficult to motivate new volunteers to complete Local Coordinator training. Nobody wants to master the basics. I think they, deep down, fear that it'll be harder than it actually. Thank you for this inspiring piece. I'm putting it on my state page!

Posted 09/17/09 Caleb Kinley Hot Springs, AR

Way to go Charlene...Make sure you carry your C4L pocket constitution with you to work..:-)

Posted 09/17/09 jclea Las Vegas, NV

What a great story. I don't think we have any right to complain about what is going on in our communities unless we're out there trying to change it. Thanks for sharing.

Posted 09/18/09 lexslexus Moorhead, MN

Great post, Charlene and I'm proud of your for taking action! Thank you for extending yourself for liberty.

Posted by CharleneN on 08/16/09

Here is our famous Cass County C4Ler speaking at the Fargo Tea Party on August 13:

Inflation Tax

Posted by CharleneN on 08/13/09

Renae Mitchel nails it on the head and hits a home run:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMiwzqItLYY

Posted 08/13/09 justinb Oklahoma City, OK

Well said! All too often people aren't taking control of their own lives, making mistakes, and asking mommy government to bail them out at other's expenses.

Posted 08/13/09 Heather D Port Byron, IL

You GO girl!

Posted 08/13/09 pwrk06 anaheim, CA

Awesome. Would've loved to see some of his response, but he looked pretty dumbfounded. Good job.

Posted 08/13/09 take your stand Carlsbad, CA

That was a knockout. What was his response? I'm curious how he tried to weasel out of that one...

Posted 08/13/09 BruceKoerber Cedar Rapids, IA

"Er... How can you say government has nothing? You have me looking out for you, don't you? I vote for things that I don't read which consequently piles tax burdens on you but it is for the good, for the good of those who use political power to their advantage. And now I come to this town meeting and you all seem unappreciative, like you want to exercise political power without our consent. Believe me, we know what is best for you." Response: The 'mob of angry citizens' promises this incumbent that his days of lazy, unconstitutional action are finished.

Posted 08/13/09 jtworkman Chicago, IL

I totally agree - but we have to remember (as Penn Jillette reminds us here http://www.foxnews.com/video/index.html?playerId=011008&streamingFormat=FLAS H&referralObject=6964967&referralPlaylistId=playlist) that liberty makes it possible for people to work as hard as they want to in order to prosper, but it also allows us to be lazy enough to just get by, and that's a perfectly acceptable life choice. What is unjust is the government's decision that one person must sustain the other. If a person is too lazy to take care of himself, he should reap the consequences. I agree with her, though, when she says that it is unjust to require someone who acted wisely to support the person who acted foolishly.

Posted 08/13/09 jtworkman Chicago, IL

I think we have to realize also that a person's prosperity is not always directly related to their life choices. Some people are just dealt a bad hand - and that's life. For example, a person who has wealthy parents is likely to be wealthy themselves - and a person has no control over how wealthy their parents are. Also, a person sometimes has no control over whether or not they become extremely ill. My sister was diagnosed with leukemia at age 9, and she did nothing to make that happen. That hit my parents and family hard. So it's not just pointing fingers at lazy people, but remembering the proper role of government.

Posted 08/13/09 sweetliberty San Rafael, CA

jtworkman, I'm sorry about your sister! Leukemia has struck people I care about, too. It's not fun. :(

Posted 08/13/09 AaronA Springville, UT

jtworkman: While it is sad that tragedy can strike anyone. It is not the role of government to step in and help that way. If a family is hit hard like that, they can turn to their other family members, community, or church. If government gets involved they can only hold a gun to my head and make me help. This only breeds resentment and creates the backlash you see now where anyone getting government "help" is being called lazy. It can be tough, especially if noone wants to help or is able to help, they are free to make that choice. That freedom should never be trampled on, no matter the reason. Life in inherintly unfair. Adding more unfairness will never make a better world. You and I can make the world a better place by rolling up our sleeves and getting to work.

Posted 08/13/09 amyers68 JAMESTOWN, OH

Great job!