Have you ever played the game who am I. It has always been a fun game.
Remember putting a notice on your head and asking people yes/no questions and trying to whittle down to find out who you are. A game I remember playing as a kid. It was a game too, I recall, being the focus of a TV game a few decades back.
A similar game too, I recall being played on talk back radio. Always fun. Always entertaining.
.
I found myself playing that game this week with one on my rate payers. A rate payer who did not understand my role. I therefore found myself trying to explain my role rather than focus on her concerns. This conversation naturally prompted me to consider writing this blog post.
Another Councillor explained to me this morning that she too has had a similar recent experience. This of course has convinced me of the need to put pen to paper.
In both cases the person with whom we were engaging believed we were employees of Council. This is NOT the case.
Who am I then? I am an elected member. An elected member of your Council.
Importantly, I am not an employee of Council. I am not a manager. Nor do I contract with Council.
I am an elected member, a Councillor. Elected by you last November as your representative on Council. Elected to be one of thirteen Councillors (including your Mayor) forming the City of Unley Council.
The next question is what is my responsibility and what did you elect me to do. For the answer to that question I ask you to watch out for a follow-up blog post.
A council, in turn, is established to provide for government and management of its area at the local level. Watch out for future blog posts on this too.
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