The News Editorial

Attention Worland Ward 3 residents now is your chance.

There is an opening on the city council following the resignation of Melissa Rivera who is moving due to an employment opportunity.

Letters of interest are being accepted through July 31.

This is your chance to be involved in the community and help shape the future of Worland.

In recent years there has been a lack of interest for council positions, especially in Ward 3. Last year two seats were vacated and there were no filings for the seats. Write-in nominations were accepted following the primary election and Rivera and Kreg Lombard were elected.

Ward 3 encompasses a large portion of the community. A ward map can be found on the City of Worland website, cityofworland.org.

While we encourage Ward 3 residents to apply for the position, you should be prepared for what the position entails.

First, it takes time to serve.

Meetings are twice a month, plus one work session a month and there are additional board meetings with the council represented on various boards in the community and in the county. There is also a lot of information to read and study prior to council meetings.

Perhaps the time factor is why there has not been a huge interest as of late.

Also, public service can be a thankless job. You are not going to please all of your constituents. But it can be rewarding as well when you have the opportunity to help a resident or help the community as a whole.

If you’ve thought about getting into public service, now is your chance. If you want to give back to your community, now is your chance.

Just make sure you have the time to serve, the patience to visit with residents about their thoughts and concerns and a willingness to listen to all sides before forming an opinion and casting a vote.

There is also the statutory qualifications. A person is eligible for city council if they are a resident of Wyoming, resident of the city and resident of the ward, and is a “qualified elector.” By state statute, a qualified elector is defined as any “citizen of the United States who is a bona fide resident of Wyoming,” has registered to vote and who is at least 18 years of age.

According to statute, “No person is a qualified elector who is a currently adjudicated mentally incompetent person, or who has been convicted of a felony and his civil or voting rights have not been restored.”

The person appointed will serve until the 2020 election. A two-year term will fill out the rest of the Rivera’s term. If the appointed person would like to retain the seat they must file for the seat during the filing period next spring.

So Ward 3 residents, come on out and give serving on the city council a chance. If not you, we’re sure you know someone who has been sitting on the sidelines, so to speak, itching to serve. Encourage them to submit a letter.