I guess once again my Mother was right: if you want something done, ask a busy person.

Take Dennis Polhill. He’s a successful engineer, a “nationally recognized pavement expert,” according to his official bio at the Independence Institute website. He became a community leader in the early 1990s. He has led the Colorado Term Limits Coalition since ‘94. He’s helped enact term limits and helped fend off the politicians’ endless attacks on the issue.

Pollhill has also been very active fighting for the right to citizen initiative. And he’s an expert on privatizing government services.

Polhill has got more than enough on his plate, sure. But then the Foothills Fire Protection District Board started acting up. In 2004 they imposed a ten percent hike in the property tax, doing it illegally, without voter approval. And the board’s administrative costs have ballooned absurdly, jumping from $160,000 to $500,000 over the last six years alone. When citizens started questioning the board’s conduct, its members closed ranks, even starting to meet in secret.

So Polhill and other residents of Golden, fed up, formed the Committee to Reform Foothills Fire Protection District. They successfully fielded two candidates in last May’s election, who ran for office on a platform of reform. And now, as members of the board, the two winners are extremely well situated to push for change.

You might say Mr. Polhill helped pave the way . . . .

This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.