Bainbridge Island justly claims an unusually high proportion of its citizens engaged in volunteer work on the island. Whether your interest lies in conservation, the arts, social services, public service or your church; whether you want to work locally or in a regional, national or international organization; or whether you just want to help with the Rotary Auction, there is a Bainbridge Island group hoping to recruit you.

Your city offers important volunteer opportunities. This past year people across the political spectrum have come to a better understanding of the importance, and of the important consequences, of personal involvement in government at all levels.

For those with the time and energy for a large commitment, three Bainbridge Island City Council positions will be up for election this year. Although I will not be seeking reelection, I have had a profoundly rewarding term as a member of the council. I hope my views on this public service opportunity will encourage others to step up.

This summer will be my 40th anniversary as a Bainbridge Islander. For most of those years I, like many of you, have been an active volunteer. Even so, when a neighbor suggested 15 or 20 years ago that I run for city council, I dismissed the idea without much thought. In fact, I did not give much thought to city government at all. I had close friends who were very involved, and that was good enough for me.

With the Great Recession and the 2009 change to a council/city manager form of government, the importance of city government started to come into focus for me. I saw the city council faced with monumental budget decisions affecting the lives of many city employees, the quality of essential services provided by the city, and the health and viability of island organizations that had relied in one way or another on the city for guidance and support. For a time, city management became a revolving door. Important issues were misused as levers dividing our community. My decision to run for city council in 2013 was based on my belief that what the council needed most was not an advocate for a particular issue, but rather someone willing to work respectfully and cooperatively to find solutions to the wide variety of issues facing the city in the best long-term interests of all Islanders.

The job of individual city council members is much broader than the official policy setting role dictated by law. Council members act as liaison between city advisory committees and commissions and the city council. They also serve on various formal and informal regional organizations. Locally and personally, council members listen and respond to voters questions and concerns about city government. With their easy access to city management and staff, they are often able to help craft solutions to citizens’ problems.

In addition to a passion for Bainbridge Island and public service, a good council member will:

• Understand and continue the hard work of translating the goals and policies of the city’s Comprehensive Plan into the code and regulations by which the city operates;

• Listen respectfully to all sides of an issue, and keep an open mind. Communicate with fellow council members, staff and all islanders in a respectful, open and frank way;

• Be willing to ask hard questions of city management, other council members, and members of the public;

• Be willing to make hard decisions in the best interests of the community, without regard to whether the decision is popular.

• Believe that the vast majority of city employees are competently working to do their very best for its citizens. Work hard to help them be successful.

• Embrace the often conflicting nature of the many goals the city has set for itself, and work for solutions that strike a reasonable balance.

I enjoy my city council service. If I were a younger person, I would be anxious to continue that service. I know there are others with the passion and temperament to be great city council members. I hope a number of you decide to make this important investment in and contribution to our Island.

Val Tollefson is mayor of Bainbridge Island and a councilman who represents the island’s North Ward.