Your vote has value; don't just throw it away

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

While the national press and many local readers have already begun to focus on next year's presidential election, the local, and perhaps, far more important election of county, borough, township and school district leaders will be held in less than a week.
The race to re-elect, or unseat, President Obama sure makes for great theater, but Tuesday's general election in Clarion and Armstrong counties has far greater implications for our everyday lives than the vote that will occur more than 12 months from now.
Sure, the president and folks in our Congress can spend our tax dollars as well as anyone, even if they somehow manage to keep spending when they can't even agree on what to spend it. But the governments that have the greatest impact on our lives right here, day in and day out, are those closest to us, namely the local governments that run our counties, communities and schools.
In Clarion County, three new commissioners will be elected next week, replacing the three incumbents who all decided not to seek re-election. It's been nearly a dozen years since the county had a wholesale change in its top leadership, and a rare occurrence for all three incoming commissioners to be new to the position. In Armstrong County, only one of the incumbent commissioners was successful in the primary election, meaning that the county will start the year off with at least two new faces, and possibly three, in the commissioners' office.
Last week, The L-V presented detailed information presented by each of the Armstrong County candidates, and this week we present the answers to our questionnaires submitted by the Clarion County candidates. We hope voters read these items with a careful eye, just as we hope voters have taken time to do other research on the candidates before heading to the polls.
There are also several other races on the county level, namely the race for the district attorney position in Clarion County.
On the local level, unfortunately there are very few contested races in area boroughs, townships and school districts. And it's a shame because these jobs are the most important in our system of democratic government. While the actions of those in Washington, D.C. and Harrisburg are often abstract concepts to us, the jobs borough council members and township supervisors do can be seen each day when we step out of our houses. They are responsible for many of the local roads; they are in charge of local parks, pools and other facilities; they hire police for our towns; and they keep the water flowing into our homes, the sewer lines from backing up and keep the garbage from rotting at the curbs. At our school districts, the elected directors have the most important jobs of all in government - the education and care of our children.
And best of all, we can see these local officials in the grocery stores, at the football games and elsewhere in the community nearly every day. They are accessible and accountable, making them the cornerstone of a democratic republic.
With the lack of candidates for many of these local positions, the posts will be filled with write-in votes. It only takes one vote to make someone a township supervisor, borough council member or school director. Take that vote seriously and cast yours for someone you know will be dedicated to the job.
Most important, we encourage all registered voters to head to the polls on Tuesday. Well informed voters are best, but all votes count. The election next week is more important to our communities and schools than next year's presidential contest. Only give your valuable vote to those who deserve the job of representing you.