Will there be an open seat on the City Council next year? There may be.

Have you ever thought of running for the City Council, the school board, South King Fire and Rescue board of commissioners or Lakehaven Utility District board of commissioners? Do you like how things are going in our four local governments? Do you want a change, or are you just interested in serving in public office?

How do you feel city government is doing? Spending too much or finally getting some things done? Are they doing the right things? Do you think you could add some expertise to our education efforts? Or maybe you would like to know more about how South King Fire and Rescue operates. Or are you interested in water and sewer? Before you turn up your nose, water and sewer are far more interesting than you may think.

This time of year, most readers are trying to keep track of the races for the state Legislature and the local races for next year seem like they are a long way away. They’re not. Serious candidates are already planning ahead.

Insiders have always suspected that there would be at least one vacant seat on the Council next year as incumbent Dini Duclos has said that she is not planning to run. Although not everyone is convinced, Duclos says she leans 95 percent toward not running.

Incumbent Council members Bob Celski and Susan Honda seem likely to run for reelection. And while there has been some speculation about appointed incumbent Councilwoman Lydia Assefa-Dawson’s intentions, she says she plans to run.

Assefa-Dawson was appointed to replace Jim Ferrell when he was elected mayor. She was selected over a competitive field and as the newcomer with no election experience, she would be considered the most vulnerable if Celski, Honda and Duclos are all running.

It is never easy to run against an incumbent and running for an open seat is always more desirable. If Duclos does indeed step down, two or three candidates could try for her seat. That could ease some of the pressure on Assefa-Dawson.

But if Duclos were to change her mind and run, then most candidates might look at the seat Assefa-Dawson holds. While she has much to make her electable, this would be her first run for local office. Others with campaign experience or better connections might like their odds.

With Sally McLean appointed acting superintendent, two newly elected board members, and a new appointed board member, the school district has settled down a little recently, though not completely. There are still significant challenges on policy issues ahead as the board moves to appoint a permanent superintendent to lead the district.

The appointment probably will occur before elections but it is still likely to be an issue to possible candidates, and interested groups. And a majority of the board are up for election next year. Incumbent Danny Peterson in District 3, Claire Wilson in District 2 and recently-appointed Hiroshi Eto in District 5 will all face the voters next year, assuming all decide to run. There has been speculation Peterson might not, but he seems to be acting like someone planning to run. While the public vote on school board candidates is district wide, there are five local neighborhood districts and candidates must live within the local district they want to represent. If you’re serious about running be sure and check a map.

Lakehaven Utility District has been pretty quiet, but could it use some new blood? Commissioners Chuck Gibson and Ron Nowicki are up for election in 2015.

South King Fire and Rescue continues to be a hotbed of rumor and the consummate insiders club. Does it need a little more public scrutiny? Commissioners John Reickart and Mark Freitas are both up for reelection. Board and staff insiders will most certainly want to defeat Freitas.

And if you want to really raise the bar on community debate, maybe elected officials and candidates should take a look at reducing the number of governments we have by considering how to incorporate them into City Hall and give us a real city government. It wouldn’t include the school district and it wouldn’t be easy, but it could be done over time, and isn’t the possibility of increased government efficiency worth the discussion?

Of course, part of where you pick up increased efficiency is by reducing the number of elected positions that are up for election. I wonder if incumbent office holders would be open to that?

Bob Roegner, a former mayor of Auburn: bjroegner@comcast.net.