County Commission | The Magazine May 2019 | Page 7

hunting and driving again, you’re
really too tired to worry with
whatever challenges might be on the
horizon at the next sun-up.
On the drive home this past
Easter morning, I spent some time
thinking about Charlie Sankey
— and the hundreds of other
commissioners and county employees
in every corner of the state who have
been our partners and friends over
the years. Few people understand
the sacrifice necessary to hold
public office, especially at the local
level where people think it’s their
constitutional right to stop you in the
grocery store to ask about whatever is
on their minds.
And even fewer appreciate what
is actually done for them in the
name of “service” to the community.
One thing that hasn’t changed
over the years is the fact that some
people are simply drawn to public
service — like some people love
standing in the dark with
a turkey yelper in their
mouth. Most folks don’t
understand either affliction.
A few months ago we
welcomed in a new group
of commissioners — excited
and certain that they will
make a real difference in
their communities. Over
the next four years, some of
them will become frustrated
and turn their energies to
other endeavors. Some will
lose favor with the voters
Sonny Brasfield and Gov. Kay Ivey at the Rebuild
and be asked to find other
Alabama Act bill signing. Photo: Governor’s Office
interests.
for that one magical morning when
But there are always
everything goes just right.
a few of them who will be drawn
Those are the folks I want on my
to a full career in this arena. They
team. Those are the folks who will
will talk about it all the time to
make a real difference. And those
their family. They will spend all
are the ones who’ll be witness to a
their waking hours thinking about
strategy. And they will block out the glorious sun rise — while everybody
dozens of times they fail in exchange else is in bed asleep. n
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