How can one elected to office as an at-large candidate really determine his/her constituency and if that is not possible then how does that official represent those who elected him/her to office? How does one appointed to an elective office determine his/her constituency?

In Shorewood at the present time both School Board and Village Board members have been candidates elected at-large, that is without representing a particular area or group other than supposedly all members of the community.

How do they do that? How does one represent every one? Does this mean that the official knows the minds of all the citizens and then combines them in determining the common good? Or do the citizens know the mind of the one running for office, and agreeing with that candidate, never bother to provide any opposition? This is not possible.

I don't feel that any member of either Board represents me. And if I were to ask each member, I don't think they could even describe who their constituency is or what it means to represent a particular individual or group of citizens.  School Board members might say that they represent all parents and their children in Shorewood. Impossible. 

Most members of both these Boards in Shorewood came to office without opposition the last time they took office. Many are incumbents, whose offices were extended merely because they had no opposition. Who do they represent? Do they listen to the citizens and if so how do they do this? Is this really what representative government is all about? Can they describe how they function in a supposedly representative government?

I'd like to hear from any of our officials in Shorewood as to how they believe they represent me.