The 2009 city election is just about a month away and the race could be heating up. If you’re a fan of gossip, whether it is truth, half-truth or something else, there’s no better place to spend some time than the local restaurant or convenience store, where folks tend to gather most mornings to solve the problems of the world.

The rumor mill really starts to spin when an election is near. We have one official race for the city council, but rumor has it that there might be at least one write-in campaign for another seat. Rumor has it that one of the candidates may have a checkered past, or that another candidate is totally responsible for the traffic inconvenience in the Longfellow School construction area.

Unfortunately, most folks hear these rumors and make a judgment on how true they might be pending on who said them. Then, if that person has been right in the past, those who heard the rumor will accept it as fact and probably pass it along to the next person, often with a slight change in the story as the new reporter remembers it.

I’ll be the first to admit that I listen to rumors. Those of us in the news business must rely on news tips, often gathered from the favorite coffee spot in town. The difference is, before we pass along what we’ve heard, either on the web site or in the newspaper, we have to go to an official source to verify what we’ve heard. The quickest way to have all day to drink coffee and spread rumors is to publish something that proves to be false and have the victim of that report sue your publication. Of course, by then you’re out of a job and probably won’t be able to afford coffee for very long, but that’s another story.

Some may have heard that I sent a message to the challenger for one of the city council seats, congratulating him on his decision to run. This should not be construed as an endorsement for a candidate. I don’t know if he would be a good city councilman or not. I’m not sure the incumbent should be replaced. I’ll leave that up to the voters of his part of town.

What I was celebrating was someone’s commitment to run and his pledge to serve the common good for all the residents of the city. It takes some real soul-searching for someone to decide to run for a city council or school board. The person may have a certain issue he or she wants to help change, but if elected, the councilman must be willing to make decisions on a variety of issues. The city council makes decisions on how the city will spend millions of tax dollars each year, how to make those dollars stretch to provide law enforcement, other essential services and various means of community development.

A person who is elected to a council or board on the basis of having an ax to grind on one issue will quickly learn that he or she might be in over his head. I’ve covered city and school government for many years, yet I’m not sure I would be qualified to serve on a board or council.

Maybe one place to start for a potential candidate would be the understanding of the most basic of financial concepts. Before you decide to run for the city council, ask yourself if you can explain the concept of tax increment financing. Before you decide to run for the school board, explain the state school aid formula.

Even more basic than that, before you decide to run, at least come to a few meetings to see how the business of the city or school district is conducted. Rely solely on coffee talk and you are in for a rude awakening if you are elected.

I know I’m in the information business, so I’ll admit to some bias, but I really respect an informed public. Sometimes we read letters to the editor in the newspaper or e-mails sent to this office that really show that the person doesn’t understand an action the council or school board has taken. Sadly, the person who writes the letter has not attended many meetings to understand what’s going on.

That is not to say that you can’t comment unless you go to a meeting, but before putting your name on a letter for all to see, at least do your homework. Our city and school district are both blessed with busy, but patient administrators. One of my old editors said the only dumb question is one that isn’t asked. But the best way to be informed is to take the time and have the common sense to go to those who might have the answers before airing what appears to be a complaint in a published letter.

You don’t have to agree with actions taken by your elected bodies, but before you criticize, at least learn the facts.

In the meantime, pour me another cup of coffee, cream and artificial sweetener, please.