With the conclusion of the municipal election, it’s a good time to thank those who have served in elected office in Wrangell — and provide some advice for the newcomers taking their seats.

John DeRuyter’s three years on the school ended with his election defeat last week, but his volunteer service to the schools started before that, when he served more than two years on the board’s secondary school advisory committee. He put in a lot of hours over the years in support of students and deserves the town’s thanks for his volunteer work.

Phillip Mach’s term on the borough assembly also ended with last week’s election. Mach had been on the assembly since early 2025, providing a thoughtful, practical voice from someone who did his homework.

Mach will be replaced by Reme Privett, and DeRuyter will be replaced by Jayme Howell. Both newcomers have years of experience with Wrangell issues, and both showed a strong grasp of the challenges as they talked about their candidacy and what they hope to accomplish in their new jobs. Volunteer jobs, we should note.

Aside from the advice they certainly will get from people in the grocery store aisles, at their paid jobs, on the street and when they go out for coffee or dinner, there are a couple of short pieces of advice worth adding to the list.

Read — in advance — the packet of information provided by staff for school board and assembly meetings. It provides details on every agenda item and is a must-read before walking into the room. Attending a meeting without reading the background is like sitting for a test without reading the assignment. 

And then, after studying the homework, speak up during the meetings when you have questions. There is no such thing as a bad question, but no question is a lost opportunity to learn more and help the public better understand the issues. Don’t depend on staff for all the ideas at the table — it’s part of the job to offer your own ideas.

About 58% of Wrangell checked the box next to Privett’s name, and more than 61% picked Howell. The two newly seated members of Wrangell’s governing bodies should feel confident they have the public’s support as they start their new career as elected officials.