I've been an elected official for over 16 years, and there have been times when I wished there was a job description to guide me. The fact is that no such thing exists in politics -- whether at the national or local level. Basic information about jobs like President, Senator, Governor, and Supervisor pop up in sections of our Federal and State Constitutions, but there is nothing all in one place that an elected official can refer to. Come to think of it, voters have nothing to go on either.
The main activity of a County Supervisor is decision-making. Some people call it "policy making," but that isn't accurate. Majority decisions make policy. Those voting in the minority make a decision, but not policy. In order to make decisions, a series of other skills are helpful. For example, a Supervisor should enjoy reading because that's a big part of the job. He or she has to be able to think critically, separating the essential from the non-essential sometimes in a matter of minutes. It helps to be confident enough to reason with other people without rancor. A Supervisor has to be able to make a decision -- even if it is to abstain. Probably the most important thing a Supervisor has to be able to do is vote, and not just when the coast is clear. A big part of the job is voting under pressure.
That's my take on what County Supervisors do. The voters have to decide if a candidate will meet their expectations. I hope they will look for someone who likes to read and is able to deliberate with others. I hope they think about whether their candidate can make decisions under pressure, and then, of course, follow through by voting under even more pressure.
If so, we'll all be better for it.
