I was talking with my father-in-law the other day about politics, and in the course of our conversation, an important fact became apparent; though we are both politically-minded people who keep up with the presidential race (I more so than he) neither one of us has a good grasp of our local politics, which aguably have greater import on daily life than federal politics.
This will be my first election in this state, which should be even more reason for me to have researched my local candidates, but I have not. I know the Senator up for re-election this year is a moderate Democrat. I know the Congressman up for re-election this year is a Republican, one who I have met and know a little about (and whom I like.) I don’t even know who my state representative(s) is/are, and I know absolutely nothing about the several mayoral candidates running, other than one critic writing to the editor of our local paper called the incumbent both a socialist and a fascist.
Though I absolutely urge everyone to vote in the upcoming national election, I even more urge people to research their local candidates. After all, it’s a lot easier for local governments to raise taxes or claim eminent domain than it is for the federal government to do it - and it’s probably easier to influence voters in a local election than it would be to change people’s minds in the presidential election at this point.
Citigover commends you.
