It’s sad that Provo politics have arguably become dominated by statists whose policies (like rights-violations, taxes, subsidies, city-run businesses, regulations, et cetera) don’t reflect the conservative free-market values of most Provoans. Perhaps this is because nearly all Provoans assume that, because so many of their neighbors share their values, all must be well within their local government and, therefore, there’s no good reason to bother to participate in local politics. This unwise attitude contributes to the result that only about 10%-15% of Provoans bother to vote in most municipal elections, with about half of those voters persistently favoring central planners over free-marketeers. And the end result is that the very few statists who live among us essentially control our local politics.
This shouldn’t be so! We who value our freedom should educate ourselves about what’s happening in our local politics, involve ourselves, and help our like-minded neighbors to join us. In some Provo city council districts, even a few dozen passionate champions of our God-given rights could potentially be enough to tip the electoral balance back toward rightful liberty.
Of course, voting doesn’t do much good if there’s nobody worth electing! Which is why those of us who value our freedom should also consider running for public office—not because we lust for power but because it’s our moral duty. So, if you are an adult U. S. citizen who has lived within Provo since (at least) last November, if you are registered to vote in Provo, and if you are both willing and able to serve in public office, then please consider running for city council! This year, Provoans will elect new city councilors for districts 1, 3, 4, plus a citywide councilor. You can officially declare your candidacy for one of these open seats within the next two days (until June 7th) between 8AM and 5PM at the Provo City Recorder’s Office.
So, don’t wait for someone else to be a hero—instead, “BE the change that you want to see in this world.” Declare your candidacy within the next 42 hours or so and help keep Provo a wonderful thriving place to live!
References:
Free Provo 