When Your Eyes Are Opened to Local Government, They Can Never Be Closed Again

In 2023, I began a journey that would completely change the way I see my community.

After moving to McDonough in 2021, I started attending local government meetings in 2023— city council meetings, county commissioner meetings, board and authority meetings, planning commission meetings, and committee sessions. I wasn’t attending because I was running for office. I was attending because I had finally found the place I wanted to call home.

Thanks to my amazing husband, who decided that McDonough would be our forever home, I wanted to understand the community we were building our lives in.

What I didn’t realize at the time was just how impactful local government truly is.

Local government decisions shape our everyday lives — zoning, roads, development, schools, public safety, taxes, infrastructure, and economic development. The policies written in those rooms determine how our communities grow, how our neighborhoods change, and how our tax dollars are spent.

But something else became clear as I continued to attend meeting after meeting.

Many citizens don’t know what’s happening in those rooms.

Sometimes, it feels like even some of the people sitting at the dais don’t fully understand the policies they’re voting on.

That realization changed me.

Because once your eyes are opened to how government really works, they can never be closed again.

You begin to see the importance of preparation, understanding policy, and doing the work long before someone ever puts their name on a ballot.

Over time, I’ve learned that passion alone is not enough to serve in public office.

Community engagement is important. Caring about people matters. But when you are responsible for shaping policy that affects thousands of lives, you must also understand how government works.

That’s why when I research candidates today, I look for more than enthusiasm.

I ask deeper questions.

Are they already attending meetings?

Are they engaged with the issues facing the community?

Do they understand how local government actually functions?

Are they sharing information and helping educate others?

Are they connecting with the people they hope to represent?

If they’re seeking higher office, whether it’s state government or Congress, do they have a foundation in policy, governance, or advocacy?

Because writing policy requires more than passion.

It requires understanding.

It requires preparation.

And it requires a commitment to true advocacy.

As we head into the upcoming primaries over the next two months, I encourage everyone to do their due diligence.

Learn about the candidates.

Ask questions.

Pay attention to who is already doing the work before asking for your vote.

Most importantly, stay engaged.

This is why I continue to host community conversations, share information about meetings, and encourage neighbors to get involved. Democracy works best when citizens are informed and engaged.

Our communities deserve leaders who are prepared, thoughtful, and committed to advocating on behalf of the people they serve.

Let’s continue the conversation.

Let’s stay informed.

And let’s work together to ensure we elect leaders who truly understand the responsibility of public service.

Let’s keep building a better McDonough, together. 🌺 🇺🇸

Montina Young Fraiser

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👀 Follow me (Montina for McDonough) on social media to stay connected to local government updates, community meetings, and civic education in McDonough.

💡 An informed community is a powerful community.