While many islanders seem to believe city government isn’t working properly, very few seem willing to try to change the situation by running for office.

Indeed, in what seems to be a case of collective circular reasoning, the biggest impediment to running for one of the four City Council seats up for election this year is the perception of the council is a group that many would not wish to join.

“There is a lot of interest in the divisiveness, and a sense that the body as a whole is pretty dysfunctional,” said former planning commission chair Sean Parker, who considered running for council but decided against it. “People are uncomfortable with that kind of tenor.”

A month before the filing period opens, there are only four candidates committed or leaning towards a run for the council – one for each seat. Two are incumbents, and the other two have previously served on the council.

Former council members Annette Stollman and Jim Llewellyn have said they will file for the seats being vacated by two-term council members Norm Wooldridge and Lois Curtis, respectively.

One-term incumbents Christine Nasser Rolfes and Michael Pollock have said they are inclined to seek re-election, although neither has formally declared.

Of the four park board seats that will be on the ballot, incumbents Dave Shorett and Kirk Robinson will seek new terms; Dane Spencer is undecided, and Ken DeWitt could not be reached for comment.

Incumbents Bruce Weiland and Cheryl Dale will defend their school board posts, leaving one seat open. A single seat on the three-person fire board will be up for grabs.

While some two dozen people showed up last Saturday morning at a League of Women Voters informational forum for prospective candidates, most were there as possible candidates for the school, park or fire board, or interested observers, but not as potential candidates.

Former mayor and council member Dwight Sutton, who has been actively attempting to interest potential candidates, said the scarcity is unusual.

“In years past, there used to be a number of people who would be interested in any seat,” he said.

“Now, one has to twist arms to even get people to say they’ll think about it.”

So far, the arm-twisting from Sutton and others hasn’t proved successful. Both Sutton and Wooldridge say they have spoken with a number of islanders who think about running but ultimately decline.

Groups with identifiable interests have fared no better.

Bainbridge Concerned Citizens, which formed last year to oppose tougher shoreline regulations and vowed to field a full slate of candidates, has not yet received any commitments, Gary Tripp said.

Environmental advocate Charles Schmid of the Association of Bainbridge Communities said he has not been trying to recruit candidates, but is not aware of anyone planning to file. Schmid said the common perception of an extensive time commitment, which he believes is exaggerated, may be part of the reason for few candidates.

Wooldridge addressed the time issue at Saturday’s forum.

“You are not personally responsible for an in-depth knowledge of all the issues, because the council has a committee system, but you need some familiarity,” he said. “I think the job can be done in 15-20 hours per week.”

Responding to another potential concern – widespread criticism from constituents – Wooldridge said the feedback he has received in his almost eight years on the council has been “mostly neutral.”

“A few people are really angry, and you have to understand that they are not angry at you personally. A few – a very few – say thank you,” he said.

The real frustration, Wooldridge said, is the length of time it takes to get things done.

“You have to accept the fact that the process, and especially the public part of the process, is time-consuming,” he said.

Sutton agreed that the perception of discord is a significant factor.

“Everyone instinctively draws away from conflict,” he said, “and asks whether they could do what they would want to do in that milieu. The phrase I hear most frequently is, ‘why would I want to get involved in that mess?’”

Sutton said other factors are likely at work. The more difficult economic times, he believes, have forced people to focus more on earning a living, and he detects a general malaise about government – people questioning whether their participation can “make a difference.”

Architect Parker also cites a general suspicion of electing people who do business with the city, or even on the island.

“It’s difficult for a local business person involved the way I am with land-use decisions to convince people that there is a clean separation between professional life and community obligations,” he said. “In other cities, people view the fact that you know the policies and moods of the city as a good thing.”

Parker said he has had conversations with “at least two dozen” people about running for council, with no takers.

“Everyone’s looking for good candidates, and willing to support somebody, but they’re not willing to step up themselves,” he said.

While Sutton said contested elections are generally healthy for democracy, he is particularly hopeful that opponents will emerge for Rolfes and Pollock, the two council members apparently seeking re-election.

Without suggesting a preferred outcome, Sutton said those races can provide some necessary feedback on the council’s performance.

“I think the community wants to express itself on those matters,” Sutton said.