This November, a historic election will take place. After partisan squabbles, months of
campaigning, and fierce debates, the United States is ready to pick its next President. Indeed, it
seems like every eye in the nation is fixed on the upcoming election, waiting anxiously for a
victor. However, the President isn’t the only one up for election this fall. Across Utah, our
mayors, sheriffs, and city governors are running for office as well.

Although local government is one of the most overlooked aspects of American politics, it
is also one of the most influential. The vast majority of politicians and government employees
work in local city governments, and most choices are made and enforced through local venues. If
schools were politics, then teachers would be the local leaders and the principal and vice
principals would be the national leaders. Although the principal and vice principals are
important, it is the teachers who have every day impacts on students’ lives.

“The decisions that really impact our lives on a day-to-day basis are made at a local
level.” says Ben McAdams, a Utah Congressman with over a decade of experience in local
government. “National politics seem to get all the headlines, but the things that are most likely to
impact our lives are local.” Congress and the President may be known for making high-profile
decisions, but it is local governments who implement them. Local government knows their
residents’ needs and priorities in a way that just is not possible on a federal level. Local
government is where stuff gets done.

“[It’s] where our community takes shape,” says Mr. McAdams. “You can be in close
contact with the public and get their ideas and input. It’s very community-oriented.”

Local government incorporates the views and priorities of its citizens in a much more
direct way than any other level. Local governments foster community, relying on the input of
their citizens to pass considerate and effective laws.

“People of different backgrounds have so much to add. In local government, you have
your lawyers and doctors, but you also have your realtors, and policemen, and firefighters.
Everyone brings a different perspective to the job that they do. What makes our community and
government stronger is when we have different people of different backgrounds and experiences
because they can see different problems and help create better solutions.”

Mr. McAdams first became involved in local government when he was just a teenager,
joining a city youth council and spearheading community outreach and awareness campaigns.
Today, he encourages Utah’s teenagers to do the same: “The local level is a place where, whether you’re running for office or just volunteering, you really have the opportunity to steer and influence the direction we are heading in. You can really be involved and help make a difference. We need people with good values and the right priorities to get involved and help take us in the direction we want to go.”

If you find yourself asking, “how can I make a difference?” look no further than local
government. There are myriad ways that today’s youth can become involved in local
government. By joining a youth council, volunteering on a campaign, attending a local event, or
casting your vote, you can make your voice heard.

“Voting has really never been easier than it is these days. There are a lot of things that
can change based on who we elect. There are a lot of decisions on the table right now, and who
we elect will change the direction that we head in.”

To those West High students old enough to vote, I encourage you to go out and vote this
November: not just for the President, but for local officials as well. Although local government
may seem small, it can make a big impact. To those not old enough to vote, encourage those
around you to vote, get involved in local campaigns, make phone calls for local candidates—the
list of ways you can help is endless. If everyday Utahns take an interest in our local government,
we can change our communities in a major way.