By BRIAN BURRIS
I would like to thank Vernon and the Progress for taking the time to publish the “Meet the Candidates” story in the October 11 edition.
This is an exciting time for our valley. For the first time since the legislation was changed, we have enough candidates to actually have an election for the Moapa Valley Town Advisory Board (MVTAB).
I have been proud to serve on the MVTAB, but I always hoped there would be a true choice for our community. I felt this article was a great start in giving voters some information to help them choose who is right for them, or should I say which 5 are right for them.
I genuinely believe that knowing where people stand on critical issues is a great start. I also know it is difficult to hit every subject with each candidate in print media. I know for me there were many more subjects discussed that did not make print like housing, economic development, and a whole host of other topics. I am sure the other candidates had similar experiences. I understand it as I am sure a whole issue of the Progress could have been devoted to the candidates and there still would have been untouched subjects.
Understanding where the candidates sit is important, but it is far from the entire story. We have all seen candidates for various offices make claims of what they will do when they are in office. I often see the flaw in their statements. Not because that is not their desire, or they are lying to get votes, but often because they have no idea what the job is all about.
The Governor for instance claims they will change this law or that law, but they have no power to make laws they can only sign them into law, veto them or just let them sit until they expire.
I think the same can be said for the town board. Most people do not understand what the board even does. How much power does it have anyway? That is important to know when we vote.
The town board in all reality has extremely limited power. It’s power is in advising our commissioner what we think is best for our community. The commissioners can take that advice and support it or vote completely opposite. We have experienced both in this valley.
Lately our commissioner tends to follow the advice of the town board. But even that advisory authority has its limits. We do not for example get to decide what private business can or cannot come into town and set up shop. Many projects come into town in fact with no input from the town board. The board is only involved if they are doing something that requires the approval of the county commission like a zone change or a waiver of requirements for specific items.
The same can be said with bringing services into the valley. We have no power to do that. We can work with the commissioner’s office to help address those needs but there is no mechanism for a town board to drive those programs.
We can’t fix the flooding problem and in fact not even the commissioner can do that. Only the Regional Flood Control district has the power to do that. However again we can help drive that conversation forward with the help of the commissioner.
We do set budget priorities, but we do not actually set the budget. Again that is done by the Clark County Board of Commissioners, but we can help drive the conversation. You could actually argue every member of the community has that same level of power.
The power of the community is the greatest power we have, period. This power can be put to action by attending the meetings. This is where your voice matters most. I can assure you it does not fall on deaf ears.
The other power is the power to talk to your board members and let them know what is important to you. This helps them make the decisions that fit the community rather than the decisions that best suit them. Being a good town board member is a team sport and it requires community involvement to win.
Whoever you decide to support in this election cycle I hope everyone becomes more involved in the direction of our community. There are many wonderful things coming in the next year or two and this will continue to be the best place to live in the entire state. Rural life may not be for everyone but it sure suits us well.
Brian Burris is a member of the Moapa Valley Town Advisory Board and is currently running for reelection to the board.
