Outgoing Enumclaw City Councilman Rich Elfers Reflects On His 4 Years

Patch asked outgoing members of the Enumclaw City Council and School Board to look back on their years of service and share highlights, lowlights and insights into what the pressing issues are moving forward.

Below is the response we received from Rich Elfers to our questionnaire.

How long did you serve on the city council? 

Four years, from Jan. 1, 2008, to Dec. 31, 2011.

Reflect back to right after you won your election -- before you actually started to serve your term(s). How did your expectations then of serving on the city council compare to the reality now that you can look back? Was it easier? Harder?

I found being on the city council more difficult and complex than I imagined, but also more fun. I enjoyed having to think on my feet and to  research and weigh information to get the full picture before I voted on a decision. I also became very aware that what I said and what I did was now public information. I learned to weigh more carefully everything I said because it might come back to bite me later. There's also a lot to learn about being an elected official; it's like drinking water out of a fire hose.

There is the public perception on an issue and then there is the real story behind the story, which is often much different than what the public understands. I also found out that in order for government to be effective, its leaders have to sell their perspective to the public before someone else sells another agenda.

Transparency and honesty are essential for effective government. Also, having the media tell the real story of the news is absolutely vital to have a healthy and functional government.

What matters the most for a public official is that he/she must care for the good of the whole city, not just their favored groups. Doing this requires intelligence and flexibility, but most of all, it requires integrity. It requires doing what's right, even if it isn't popular, or even if it will cause you to lose the next election. It requires one to have courage. Being on the receiving end of public outrage is no fun.

If you had to name three things you were most proud of during your years of service, what would they be, and why?

I'd have to say that first of all, I helped to change the direction of city government by helping Liz Reynolds get elected mayor. She changed the tone of government to one of openness and fairness to all, not to one group. She treats city employees with respect. This has paid benefits in the recent contractual agreements with AFSCME and the police guild. The mayor also emphasizes integrity, a must to have properly functioning government.

Second, I felt I saved the city and taxpayers money because I saw how the money was being spent while on the finance committee and I spoke up when I saw there was a better way of doing things. I also found a better way to do the city budget and the administration took my suggestions and used them to create the 2011 budget format.

Third, I encouraged the council to be more focused, and I also worked at getting the city to think longer term rather than short term (one year).  I was somewhat successful in changing perspective, but change requires a lot of time. I think I made a dent.

What, if anything, do you regret not being able to do in this role? Or have done but wish you hadn't?

I regret not being able to get the council to focus on funding core services: police, streets and sidewalks. Thinking long term for the good of future generations needs to be part of government culture. It saves the taxpayers money and creates a better quality city. Those issues still need to be addressed.

What, if anything, do you think will be the big, pressing issues the council faces next year, and why is it important for residents of Enumclaw/Black Diamond to care/stay informed?

Coping with diminishing income will probably be the biggest issue for cities. With less money the standard of living Enumclaw citizens have come to expect will decline. Citizens need to realize that city services cost money.  Expecting a high level of services without income for the city is unrealistic.

A second issue that I see is dealing with the culture of fear. Many people in Enumclaw believe we can keep Enumclaw the way it is now, that we can avoid change. Unfortunately, change is inevitable.  What needs to be done is to plan for balanced change, rather than letting change plan for us.

What I fear the most for Enumclaw is that we return to the good ol' boy mentality where the few use the government to benefit and enrich themselves at the expense of the community.  This is happening nationally and at the state level. To avoid it at the city level requires more of the people in this community to get active and become informed. The media need to do a better job of informing our citizens what's really going on. I plan to help in that regard with letters to the editor like the one I just submitted about the fire district levy.  We get the government we deserve. If we don't like how government is acting, we voters have no one to blame but ourselves. Having a fully functioning government requires eternal vigilance. It requires work.

What advice do you have for the individuals filling your positions?

In politics, a public official must realize that differing with others is part of the job.  In politics, nothing is personal.  Just because one official takes an opposing position does not make them wrong.  They're just offering a differing perspective. Good government, in my opinion, requires diversity of thought and tolerance for differences. It's healthy to disagree if people are civil. If everyone thinks the same there is no growth.

I'd also emphasize looking for balance in all that you do. Doing that requires hearing points of view from 360 degrees. That means asking questions and seeking out differing views.