People Just Don’t Care

Only 23.52% of the registered voters in the City of Hazlehurst bothered to cast a ballot in Tuesday’s election.

People…. just…. don’t…. care.

In my eight years as a member of the City Council, I found myself helpless in trying to bring order and responsibility into a government that was growing increasing chaotic and out of control. It was one of the most frustrating chapters in my life …. a life that is now in its seventh decade.

As much as I’ve wanted to put that nightmare behind me, move on to other things, erase those frustrations from my memory ….. get a good night’s sleep without being shaken out of my deep slumbers by thoughts of the overwhelming frustration that my attempt at public service had brought to me. But I’ve been unable to put that out of my mind and I continue to wake up in the middle of the night — concerned, depressed, frustrated.

A good friend of mine, who had spent a 4-year term on the city council of a neighboring community, once counseled me, saying, “Tommy, if you ever get the urge to run for public office, sit down until the urge goes away.”

I didn’t heed his warning.

I wish I had.

I truly believed I could make a difference.

I was mistaken.