Andy Etemad

USP 171
7-17-2008

An elected official whether they represent local districts, a state, or a nation must be

willing to participate to the fullest in promoting sustainable development in the

communities. The elected official is representing the interests of their constituents since

those constituents are the ones who believe that the official can improve or advance their

way of living by electing him or her. Someone in office who holds a high level position,

such as a mayor, assemblyman or woman, or governor needs to be cognizant of how our

environment is changing rapidly and understand that a collective partnership between

themselves, constituents, businesses leaders and corporations all need to cooperate

together to promote and invest in sustainable development. The role of an official is to be

informed themselves routinely of progress or lack of towards city infrastructure that does

not meet future demands, and to take swift action. Bringing issues of sustainable

development to the public, working with the public and business leaders, an elected

official should take every measure possible to promote green living.

Officials who take office usually concern themselves with annual city fiscal reports,

promoting tourisms, trying to increase the value of the city’s land for developers to invest

in, and bring as many jobs possible while in office. Environmental issues, in particular

sustainability doesn’t rank as the highest priority on their agenda probably since

constituents want jobs and public safety first before clean, carbon-free emitting

transportation and buildings. So, officials leave those sorts of issues to public, private

health agencies to monitor while they can worry with on the “big” stuff. It becomes

incumbent upon health agencies to present, along with local constituents, to bring forth

matters regarding the consumption and wastes that a city produces and if there is an
 A.Etemad
A05726105

excessive amount of waste being generated that is overwhelming a city or even state’s

resources. Then, once listening to the facts and analyzing the data, it is absolutely

imperative that an elected official brings this to the attention of all the local citizens,

union workers, and local business leaders to find a solution for the matter at hand.

It is very, very important that an elected official make it clear to utility companies

such as SDGE, city engineers such as CALTRANS, local universities such as UCSD, and

SDSU, along with local scientists that the doors to his or her office is always open to

discuss local environmental issues at any time. These local agencies, and engineers and

scientists are the conduit to city hall in getting information to them as quickly as possible.

A mayor or any elected official must make then, a sincere effort to try and help in any he

or she can. Only then will we have a well oiled political system working on behalf of it’s

constituents to meet all of their goals.

An elected official must make him or herself as accessible as possible while they are

in office by way of the radio, internet, newspaper, or weekly town hall meetings. Any

thing and official can do to answer concerns from their constituents is always important.

An official must be willing to do more than is expected of since he or she represents

everyone living in a city and not just him or herself. Since constituents are always bogged

down with work, taking care of a family, and taking care of their own finances, they

expect city officials to always be accessible for questions, in a formal manner of course,

since the information is being presented to them.

An elected official must understand that the position they hold is to meet moral and

civic duties of a city, and not abuse the power of their position for corruption or personal

agendas. Of course it is naïve to think that a candidate elected into office was so, solely
 A.Etemad
A05726105

from voters, and not at all from special interest groups. Instead an official must be willing

to work with and for the public to meet their needs and future demands to invigorate and

build a sustainable city to meet future needs.