comment: It's because they can't afford to run or live off the income.    Most local and town government elected positions, which would be stepping stones to state legislatures and beyond, are part time and pay little to nothing which requires you to hold a full time job on the side.    I would love the opportunity to help run my community, but I can't afford it.    This opens the door to the already rich, or... concessions to donors who are paying for their vote.    It doesn't help that we as a society have been brainwashed to believe politicians are overpaid, so we vote against any politician who supports pay raises, which leaves us with those who don't need the money in charge.