Residents must get educated on local government

I was recently at a gathering, in a discussion with a group of people I barely knew, when a women mentioned she never realized the importance of the role of a county supervisor. She noted that all supervisors make decisions in your area, not just your district supervisor.

I bet very few residents of San Luis Obispo County could even name their county supervisor, let alone all five of them. These people make very important decisions almost every Tuesday. Homelessness, physical and mental health, water, fire, garbage and land use are just a few examples of the important issues that are discussed by the Board of Supervisors. They make decisions that can impact almost every aspect of your life.

I encourage you to look at the county’s annual report to see the myriad issues the board handles and to get an idea of the services the county offers.

Elections are coming up for Districts 1, 3 and 5. I suggest you get to know who is running, what they stand for and whether they meet your qualifications for a good supervisor. Visit a board meetings, attend debates, sponsor a meet and greet and do your homework. Most importantly, educate family, friends and co-workers, spread the word about the office of county supervisor and the important job they do. So get involved, register, and then vote.

This story was originally published January 28, 2016 at 8:35 PM with the headline "Residents must get educated on local government."