William Matt
It is my pledge to always seek justice on behalf of the City of Lansing. As your neighbor, I will work diligently to find responsible solutions to our challenges, and lead with a vision guided by a hope of an ever-better city.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
One week to Primary!
Yes, I am getting surprised looks at doors when I ask residents to consider voting for me next week. Next Week!?
The Primary is August 7, and regardless of who you plan to vote for, I encourage you to get out and vote. Local politics probably have more to do with impacting your day to day life than national politics, but hardly anyone pays attention to when local issues come up and who is running and representing them in office. While the attention getting headlines of pro-life Supreme Court nominees, the War in Iraq, and and even now, Presidential debates get all the major media attention, the local issues hit us personally everyday.
Crime
Taxes
Roads
Parks
Still, if you browse the LSJ comments section, 25 letters to the editor about local candidates doesn't generate as much response as a single pro or anti conservative or liberal letter.
I like to follow national politics too, but I also take time to learn about local issues. I am a political and news junkie!
The last major city election a year and a half ago generated the largest turnout in a number of years, maybe even decades. Along with these mundane city issues, we also had a very partisan Presidential election, along with 6 or so major State wide proposals, and the Granholm-DeVos race to vote on. The highest turnout in any of my 3rd Ward precints was just above 50%. Many areas hovered around 30%, and these are registered voters, not counting people who did not even register. And this was the BEST turnout in years!
For this years primary election, I predict under 20% turnout of registered voters. As I talk to neighbors who are likely to vote, I tell them they are not really voting for themselves, but are voting and representing their whole block of neighbors who don't vote. One house out of five will vote next Tuesday. Do you really want your neighbor down the block making decisions for you and your family?
The Primary is August 7, and regardless of who you plan to vote for, I encourage you to get out and vote. Local politics probably have more to do with impacting your day to day life than national politics, but hardly anyone pays attention to when local issues come up and who is running and representing them in office. While the attention getting headlines of pro-life Supreme Court nominees, the War in Iraq, and and even now, Presidential debates get all the major media attention, the local issues hit us personally everyday.
Crime
Taxes
Roads
Parks
Still, if you browse the LSJ comments section, 25 letters to the editor about local candidates doesn't generate as much response as a single pro or anti conservative or liberal letter.
I like to follow national politics too, but I also take time to learn about local issues. I am a political and news junkie!
The last major city election a year and a half ago generated the largest turnout in a number of years, maybe even decades. Along with these mundane city issues, we also had a very partisan Presidential election, along with 6 or so major State wide proposals, and the Granholm-DeVos race to vote on. The highest turnout in any of my 3rd Ward precints was just above 50%. Many areas hovered around 30%, and these are registered voters, not counting people who did not even register. And this was the BEST turnout in years!
For this years primary election, I predict under 20% turnout of registered voters. As I talk to neighbors who are likely to vote, I tell them they are not really voting for themselves, but are voting and representing their whole block of neighbors who don't vote. One house out of five will vote next Tuesday. Do you really want your neighbor down the block making decisions for you and your family?
# posted by Bill Matt @ 8:24 AM 
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