Citizen? Where?

Alright, yesterday, my town had elections. "Superelection" they called it, because the combined elections for the city council, the two school districts boards, the township and even more. Now, I have to admit, as non-citizen, legal alien, I am tempted to get citizenship just for that reason! I was surprised to read that the voter participation was 22% for the city council! Wonne-woppe 22%, that is less then a quarter of the population of the city, granted it is 22% of the entire population including the 0-18year olds who can't vote. Actually if you take out the population of 20years and younger, that's all I could find online, it is just 26% voter participation (on 2003 population data, so that has changed giving that our city is still growing crazy -- and I am not talking here of mental problems!). No much better. How can a city justify running with barely a quarter of its population picking the council members. I really don't understand how residents, of non-citizen nature, can't vote for the city council! I do understand that legal aliens shouldn't have anything to say who will be the next president, but city council? Seriously? What are they afraid would happen? That the foreigners hijack the city? Force people to drive on the left side of the road with in city limits? After all my daughter is attending the local schools, shouldn't I have something to say who governs these schools? That's when I feel like I am a resident of second class! If they try to teach my child that creationist crap or mismanage the math department, I am not supposed to vote off the guys up there?
If I would like my European citizenship and origins I would be a citizen by now!