I was in Orlando the last few days participating in a class offered by FLC University, an affiliate of the Florida League of Cities. The purpose of the course for government officials is to make us better leaders. It was very interesting and gave me insight on not only my leadership abilities and style but also how to spot traits in others, including their motivations. It was worth the time to attend.

However, I am not a leader in the conventional sense. Neither I nor any member of the City Commission has any real authority to affect the City’s everyday operations. This sentiment was echoed by the dedicated elected officials who took the class with me. Commissioners don’t have a portfolio or a department that we oversee. We have limited ability to do more than speak with the city manager. This is not the classical definition of a leader. This is not how you would normally accomplish things.

So where does an elected official derive his or her leadership from? The simple answer is from the citizens we represent. Once elected, I stand in for the voters and residents of Stuart. I can express leadership by being the representative of the voters and residents. When speaking to the city manager or staff, I speak for you.

No one commissioner has authority in the traditional sense. The Commission has the authority to vote to appoint the manager but not much else. It is no secret that I believe that the strong manager/weak commission form of government is not accountable to the voters. I think it is the antithesis of what our democracy is all about. Our leaders in the public sector must derive their legitimacy from the people. That can only be done by the people choosing their leaders. It is hard to be a leader without the carrot or stick.

But we do not have that system so I must work within the current one. So, as your elected official, the leadership I show is derived through you. I have only the moral authority that you have provided by your vote. I am your leader for as long as I have your support. My effectiveness for you demands that I have that support. Without it, I have a title but no authority. And, I think you know by now, I didn’t want to be elected to have an empty title.  The reason I ran for Commission was so that I could be your voice in setting policy for the City and to ensure accountability to you rather than to the special interests that often prevail when no one is watching out for the citizens.