That Bill Sizemore continues to influence the Salem decision makers is a prime example of Oregonians' distrust of government at the state level. Similarly, the same type of distrust is occurring at the local level, even in Lake Oswego. Somehow, in the minds of many citizens, once their fellow citizens take the oath of office, they are no longer trustworthy. They become part of the city hall bureaucracy. And yet, even though trust in local elected officials has declined and civic engagement has declined, the importance of this concept in making government work, especially at the local level, is widely accepted.
Democratic government is most successful where there is a high degree of trust.
The level of trust influences a city's well-being as well as its ability to govern. If a city council is to meet the needs of its citizens, there must be broadbased citizen trust in their elected officials. It is not easy to build trust, but it is easy to destroy. Trust is built over time. Thus, it is the challenge of every candidate running for local office to continue the process begun on his or her neighbor's front porch in September . . . to restore public trust in local government.