It’s encouraging to see that nine Poulsbo citizens stepped forward for consideration for City Council appointment.

The North Kitsap Herald’s editorials on the subject of lack of citizens’ interest in their local government seems to have ignited a desire to serve the community. This is a good thing.

Representative government is the backbone of our democracy and begins at the very heart, which is the community in which we live. The frequently quoted statement of former Speaker Tip O’Neill, “All politics is local,” is true. Our local government and how the issues are administered set the stage for county, state and federal policies that affect us all.

Experiencing our moribund Congress in Washington is a good example of how our government has lost its moral compass because voters have, by their lack of interest, shown by the sorry turnout in elections let this happen.

The bottom line is that we get the government we vote (or don’t) vote for.

Bill Effinger
Poulsbo

— Effinger is a former mayor of Buena Park, California