(The content of this blog is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to reference any specific person, place or entity.)
Local elections are the backbone of our communities here in New Hampshire. While national elections get the spotlight, it's those town races that shape everything from our schools to our roads. When we show up to vote, we're not just picking a candidate; we're deciding what kind of town we want to live in. And that's a powerful opportunity.
Most town elections in New Hampshire are held on the second Tuesday in March. It's always a good idea to check with your town on when and where your elections are held. Voting is essential to the future of your community, your taxes and can disrupt those entrenched in power dynamics, or "good old boy clubs".
What exactly is a "Good Old Boy Club"?
The "Good old boys club" mentality is a deeply ingrained cultural phenomenon that can be found in many workplaces, industries, and even in society at large. It is a product of a patriarchal system that has historically valued masculine traits and characteristics over feminine ones. They seem to work their way through the floorboards of your very small rural town and expand all the way to the top.
How can you spot if your town has a Good Old Boys Club?
There are signs.
Pay attention to how your town meetings are being conducted.
You might notice a lack of transparency. Perhaps the meeting minutes from town meetings are cryptic, exclude details or agenda topics all together.
Are their meeting being held in back rooms, undisclosed locations, locations not generally open to the public or do the dates and times change or differ from their website or posted agendas
Are agendas and meetings not properly posted
Do board minutes go into "non-public session" a lot
Are the meetings generally lacking public input
There can also be a form of favoritism where certain families or businesses get special treatment
If new ideas or people who challenge the status-quo get sidelined, thats a red flag!
Now, before you assume that this blog is aimed at any specific person or town, guess again. This is a nationally recognized issue and has been researched and discussed broadly. Research identifies an informal network of mostly caucasian, male residents who hold significant power and influence within the community, often using their connections to unfairly favor each other for jobs, contracts, and other benefits, while actively excluding or hindering anyone who isn't part of their social circle, creating a discriminatory and often corrupt environment; a sort of self declared "mayor" in a rural town. Now with social media at everyone's fingertips, you can bet they are very involved in social media posting to large group pages and town group pages. They hold a large amount of influence in small towns. They want and need you to like them, favor them and support them. Depending on which side of the "club" you are on, this can either be a very good or bad thing for you or your involvement in your town.
Are they even from your town or state at all? Small towns all across our country are seeing rapid change to the town politics from people who have relocated from other states. Is the need for change just from what they are familiar with and want? Do they support the culture, wants and needs of the town? This is a red flag for the potential for a toxic town environment.
Going back to the importance of town elections, pay close attention to the names on those ballots. Are they names that run term after term? Are they family names that seemingly "run the town"? When you see the endorsement of typical names to join that "club" by the self declared leader, think about that person's attributes and qualifications to your town first. Ballots are not a popularity contest.
What do you do if your town is being run by a "Good Old Boy Club"?
Becoming a member of the good ol’ boys’ club requires significant effort. It demands consistent, diligent work. Often, it involves working harder and longer than the "club" to achieve the same recognition or success. These circumstances are unfortunate but real.
Expressing yourself in new environments allows others to form an opinion about you. It's likely you'll encounter an antagonist at some point.
Sometimes, you need to step into a situation where you haven't been explicitly invited. Once you're there, remember to voice your thoughts. You might even need to be proactive in seeking an invitation. Infiltration is a gradual process and won't happen overnight.
Respect must be earned, not demanded.
Not all Clubs are alike!
You might already know about your towns "good old boy club" and see a benefit to them. Not all of them are toxic. What are the community benefits they offer? If it is an inviting club made up of men and women who all share similar interest and goals with an aim to accomplish or support positive change in your community, they should be embraced. This is what a town should have.
Voting season is here and there is no better time than now to start to examine your towns culture. Attend public meetings, engage your elected and appointed officials and learn who your clerk and hourly town administrators are. They are the backbone of your town and have a lot of influence over your overall experience in your town.
I can't stress enough how influential you are in your town. Your vote does matter! Don't be discouraged by the "good old boys club". You attending meeting and getting heard is the best way to ensure that you can meet like minded people in your community. The more people you have to support the needs and changes of your town, the better success you will have overcoming them.
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