In our last Facebook Live of 2020, WPLN sat down with two local leaders in Pennsylvania, Melissa Komar and Renee Daly, to discuss getting involved in local government through appointment to boards and commissions.

Daly serves as the Executive Director of the Redevelopment Authority of Cambria County and has now been appointed to the Pennsylvania Association of Housing and Redevelopment. Komar is the Director of the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority and was recently appointed to the role of Second Vice-President of the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association. Decisions made by boards and commissions affect governance on the local level and have the biggest impact on citizens’ everyday life.

Here are three reasons you should consider taking a leap into local public service:

There are always openings for new members or to fill expired terms.

Komar knows firsthand the advantage newcomers have in terms of seeking involvement in local politics. There are often many positions that go unfilled or expire due to incumbent retirement and are perfect seats for those interested in getting involved. The best ways to find out this information is checking out local election commission websites or by attending public meetings of the commission or board you are looking to joining.  

Joining a board or commission doesn’t require specialized knowledge.

Contrary to popular belief, joining a board or commission does not require you have hyper-specialized experience or knowledge in a given field or area. The best experience a local leader gains is by talking to members of the community. Nurturing your relationships with the community through surveys or public meeting attendance is vital to public service. Educating yourself as needed is extremely important so carefully consider what kind of commission or board you hope to work on. Knowing the needs of the people you serve makes it easier to make and understand those crucial decisions that directly impact your neighbors.

Serving in local office allows you to help members of your community feel heard and represented.

Daly believes that the best way to ensure members of your community are heard and adequately represented is by simply talking to them and assessing their concerns. One of the most gratifying aspects of the hard work serving on commissions on boards requires, is being able to see the changes you are making in your community and helping people you serve feel represented. It is so important to hold those that hold office accountable and the only way to remain accountable is by being honest and listening to the needs of others.

Watch the entire conversation below or on our Facebook page.