I need to meet new people so I signed up to attend the "State of the City" address put on by the local Chamber of Commerce. Hizzonor the Mayor will be featured prominently and there will be a presentation on the new city budget. I've heard enough people griping on FB about how messed up the city government is and want to see how the sausage is made.

This could work. Local issues are far more likely to affect me than national ones, and if I decide to speak up I'll have a better chance of being heard.

Do you involve yourself in local issues?

Yes.

Our village is generally pretty well run but there are some issues that are important to me.

Upcoming issue of interest is the Chicago Bears building a stadium in my town. Definitely our/my Next Big Thing.

Frequently. Although our county government is quite excellent, some municipalities have been taken over by the wacko wing of the GOP. I've been asked by the party to run for township trustee but I prefer to spend my volunteer time on two charities I started, and I think the incumbents are quite good.

I won’t run for anything but might sit on a committee.

Or I might just become the old guy who sits in the back at Planning Commission meetings and has an opinion everything

I was on the Board of Zoning Appeals for a few years but ran afoul of a trustee who was using his position to further his development company and I stood up to him. The next election we put together candidates to take him out and stop him. He was totally pissed and his social media comments sunk him forever. now the land he wanted to develop is permanently a park.