Public service should not be about the money
It’s a shame I feel I have to say this but if the money matters, you shouldn’t serve.
When I decided to enter life as a public servant, I made this decision because I know I can help people. When I decided to enter life as a public servant, I made this decision because I know I can help the town. When I decided to enter life as a public servant, I made this decision because you deserve better. This list can continue, but understand at no point on the list would anything about money appear.
My point is that public service isn’t about money. I’ve made it clear that I intend to use the stipend given to members of the Selectboard to create a scholarship for a Fairhaven High School student. As I’ve watched and followed along the various meetings and social media posts I’ve seen or heard money mentioned a few times.
Whether you’re tree warden, selectman, board of health, etc money should not be the reason you do it. Quite frankly if your motivation to serve me and my fellow Fairhaven citizens is financial I kindly ask you to step down.
Nobody has mentioned that they are serving for money, however they have mentioned how little they are compensated for their time. Is this supposed to serve as justification for the lackluster job you do? Were you aware of the money before you chose to run for the position? Were you hopeful that somehow it would change when you took over the position? Maybe you got in, realized how much work it is and said “this small amount of money isn’t worth the effort.”
I don’t care how much you’re compensated and if you have to mention how small the amount then you care.
I currently serve as a member of the Sustainability Committee which has no pay. I hope that some day the Board of Selectmen decides diversity equity and inclusion matters enough to allow us to get on the agenda to create that committee and that will have no pay.
If I am chosen to serve you as Selectman, I will accept the pay only to give it to a deserving student. However I will serve with great passion because I love Fairhaven and the people deserve that. I will serve with great intensity because my family should be able to hold their head high knowing their father/ husband serves the right way for the right reason. I will serve in this fashion with a smile, because I love what I do and if I didn’t love it, I wouldn’t do it.
Leon Correy, Fairhaven, 2022 Candidate for Selectman, www.leoncorrey.com
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