Heavy Is the Head That Wears the Crown

Five Days In: The Weight of Public Trust

It has been five days since I was elected to serve on the Gilbert Town Council.

I have not been sworn in yet. My term does not begin until January. I am still Councilman-elect.

And yet, the weight of the responsibility is already becoming very real.

There is tremendous humility in being elected by your community. I believe there is a time and season for everything, and I believe I have been called to serve Gilbert for a time such as this.

But beyond the congratulations and excitement surrounding new Council members, another reality has quickly emerged:

People are reaching out because they need someone to listen.

In just a few days, I have heard concerns involving immigration processes, public-safety technology and privacy, school transportation, and even situations involving neighboring communities outside Gilbert.

Some of these issues fall within the Town’s authority. Many do not.

But behind every email, text, and phone call is a person.

That may be one of the most important lessons I have learned already.

People do not necessarily expect an elected official to magically solve every problem. But they do want someone in a position of responsibility who will listen, care, respond, and take action where action is possible.

That responsibility is beginning to sink in.

Six Days Ago

I have realized something else:

Bus Obayomi today has to respond differently than Bus Obayomi six days ago.

Not because winning an election suddenly makes someone more important. It does not.

But public trust changes the weight of your words, your decisions, your relationships, and even your silence.

I cannot carry every burden.

I cannot answer every question.

And I certainly cannot fix every problem.

Sometimes leadership will mean taking action. Sometimes it will mean connecting someone with the right person. And sometimes it will mean having the humility to say, “This is outside my authority, but let me help point you in the right direction.”

That realization has reminded me that I need to be more anchored than ever—in faith, mission, purpose, patience, and wisdom.

I need to listen more.

I need to understand before reacting.

And I need to remember that being entrusted with responsibility does not mean having all the answers.

This Is a Marathon

A lot is already happening.

Important conversations about Gilbert’s future are taking place. I am listening, learning, meeting with residents and community leaders, and beginning to better understand the opportunities and challenges ahead.

But I keep reminding myself:

This is a marathon, not a 100-meter dash.

There will be significant decisions ahead.

Some decisions will be popular. Others may not be.

Some may bring new allies, while others may create disagreement. Sometimes the same decision may do both.

That is part of leadership.

I also recognize that my words and, eventually, my votes will be viewed differently now. That comes with public service, and I accept it.

But I never want the pressure of public scrutiny to turn leadership into performance.

I want to remain grounded.

I want to remain teachable.

I want to have the courage to make difficult decisions when necessary.

And I want to remember why I ran in the first place.

My Commitment

I will do my best to be the best councilman I can be.

I will do my best to listen more than I speak.

I will do my best to serve those who voted for me and those who did not.

I will ask questions.

I will learn.

I will make mistakes.

I will make difficult decisions.

And when I get something wrong, I hope I will have the humility to acknowledge it, learn from it, and do better.

In return, I ask something of those watching, supporting, questioning, and even criticizing me:

Radical patience.

That does not mean the absence of accountability. Quite the opposite.

Hold me accountable. Ask difficult questions. Challenge my thinking. Tell me when you believe I am wrong.

But I hope we can judge this journey by the body of the work—not simply one conversation, one decision, one vote, or one moment.

Because ultimately, this cannot be about one councilman.

I remain radically committed to strengthening our community, building bridges, protecting what makes Gilbert special, and helping ensure our residents feel heard, represented, and safe.

I believe deeply in something bigger than myself:

Us over I.

Public service should never be about the person occupying the seat. It should be about the people who entrusted that person to sit there.

Five days in, the responsibility feels heavier than it did on Election Night.

Perhaps that is a good thing.

Leadership should carry weight.

I pray I never become so comfortable with the title that I forget the responsibility that comes with it.

The title may belong to one person, but the work belongs to all of us.

We are on this journey together.

And together, I believe Gilbert will be better for it.

With gratitude,

Bus Obayomi
Gilbert Town Councilman-Elect