From education policies to healthcare initiatives, your local representative plays a pivotal role in determining the path our community takes. These things wouldn’t be possible without a strong government, and for the last 25 years Representative Jan Schakowsky has been making these decisions for Illinois’s 9th congressional district, where Skokie resides. However, only a shocking estimated 1 in 3 people can name their local representative. Knowing your local politician is important because of their direct impact on daily life and how they build stronger communities.
Since the establishment of the United States, a heavy significance has been placed on the power dynamic between a federal government and a local government. A federal institution enacts things across America, but a government will create laws and programs that are specific to one community. In recent times, many voters (younger ones especially) have not been as connected to their local government as they should be, even though it is crucial to know who is making decisions that affect communities.
Your local politician directly impacts your daily life because they oversee all the laws being made, and many of your local politicians like your mayors create specific laws for your community. A politician makes vital decisions for a community. It is extremely important to know exactly who you are voting for to be a leader in your community. “So, maybe there’s some people out there that are elected who are making decisions, and some of those decisions may be really bad, some of them may be good, so you want those people,” Schakowsky said in an interview. Again, Schakowsky reinstates the fact that an elected official has an immense amount of power over their community, and electing the correct person makes all the difference.
A politician has a lot of power, but a benefit of a local politician over their national counterparts is that a local politician can be easily reached and have opinions on local issues voiced to them, allowing community members to have someone that can address issues that are held within the community. Everybody has opinions about their neighborhood, and although it’s nearly impossible to gain the attention of a president, it’s much easier to notify a local politician. For example, the mayor of Skokie has his phone number and email address listed on his website where anybody can easily contact him. The accessibility of his contact information shows how a local politician is a much more viable means of communication pertaining to local issues. Many times, politicians aren’t aware of the ways enactments are specifically affecting the people in their community, and if an injustice is brought to their attention, they will more than likely act upon it.
With the power to create laws, a local politician can also empower and encourage a community to strive for more. Junior David Andras believes that knowing your local politician is important to being a good citizen.
“Politicians literally create the laws we live by, and those laws can look very different depending on who we elect,” Andras said.
Take a lot into consideration about the vitality of knowing your local politicians. They are as important as they are because they have a direct impact on your life, are accessible, and help build strong communities. “Don’t wait, act,” Schakowsky said. “This is a critical moment where everything is on the edge. Get involved wherever it is. Get involved.”
