As the Gazette editor, I challenge every reader to care enough about this town to vote on Nov. 3 when we will elect three commissioners to the five-member Board of Commissioners. The mayor, who votes only in case of a tie, is the sixth member of the town board.
In recent town elections, only 11 or 13 percent of voters bothered to go to the polls, and it may have been less some years. That means, despite the protestations of loving the town and the small-town charm and all, fewer than 3,000 people voted to keep that small-town charm. The rest, I guess, trusted their neighbors’ judgment. I don’t. That’s why I vote.
There are 22,644 voters inside the town limits out of a pretty accurate estimate of 39,000 residents. Could we get 25 percent of those voters, 5,661 people, to the polls? I think that would be somewhat short of miraculous but well above outstanding.
But, from experience and a definitely cynical viewpoint, I will bet we might strain to reach 13 percent. Why don’t you prove me wrong?
One Response
I’m predicting the lowest % turnout in the last 20 years. Nobody is campaigning. No signs, no house visits, no conversation. Just pure apathy.