While it may seem simple at first glance, serving on the Emporia City Commission or any governing body is far more involved than most people realize.
That was a key point from Emporia City Manager Trey Cocking during his monthly appearance on KVOE’s Talk of Emporia Tuesday morning. Cocking was discussing the upcoming election which will see three positions on the city commission on the ballot.
Among those will be the seat held by Commissioner Susan Brinkman who announced earlier this month she will not seek a third term in office. With that in mind, Cocking stated we’re already guaranteed to see change come to the general election later this year, noting that is a common occurrence for governing boards.
Another common occurrence is the scrutiny commission members often face when making policy decisions on a regular basis.
Cocking also noted it is important for those looking to serve on the commission to know that your role as commissioner does not end when meetings adjourn.
Cocking raised these points to ensure that anyone who chooses to run for a commission seat has a full picture of the responsibilities that come with it aside from just voting yes or no on city-related matters. That said, Cocking is hopeful there will be a large amount of interest in serving on the commission in coming months noting it is one of the best ways to give back to the community.
In addition to Brinkman’s seat, positions held by commissioners Jamie Sauder and Tyler Curtis are also up for election this year with neither individual announcing their intentions as of yet. The filing deadline is at noon on June 2 for positions like school board, mayor, City Council and City Commission. The primary election is Aug. 5. The general election is Nov. 4.
