At last week's Republican caucus, long-time supervisor Tom Armstrong was challenged for the nomination by former planning board chairman Jim Willsey. Armstrong came out on top, but only by six votes.

Not only was the challenge to Armstrong's tenure encouraging to see, but the idea that 114 Republicans turned out for the caucus shows a level of interest in local government that has been missing for some time.

Willsey, who was eventually nominated to run for one of two board seats up this year, is a member of the "Republican Reformers for Springfield," which consisted of Willsey for supervisor, Dan Rosen and Debbie Fassett for council members

The upstart party has a platform which includes: increasing governing responsibilities; using the budget as a planning document; hiring an accountant for the town; sharpening the lines of accountability over the supervisor; improve security and maintenance of community center; promoting rental of and realistic prices for community center space while assuring access to local volunteers; tightening controls for the use of the public landing; a review of benefits and pay of board members; re-establishing regular meetings between the town and planning board representatives; development of a long-run plan to encourage the type of development in Springfield that will be consistent with maintaining the rural character of the township; and strictly enforcing the town's code of ethics to avoid conflicts of interest.

"We have found people that are very unhappy with the present leadership in the town," said Rosen, who is a former member of the town planning board.

It is long past time for more people to become involved in their local government - whether by running for office, volunteering for boards and committees or just regularly attending meetings.

Hopefully the Springfield Republican caucus is a sign of change in the public's all to frequent apathetic attitudes toward participation in elections and government.