MAKE CANDIDATES EARN OUR VOTES
I am disgusted every time I look at an election ballot and
see the line indicating a shortcut that I can fill out to vote either all
Republican or all Democrat with one quick mark. It’s an insult to the voters,
the candidates and the brave men and women who fought and gave their lives so
that we can enjoy the privilege of voting.
In Dearborn County Republicans count on single ticket voters
so much that they know can put up just about anyone (qualified or not) and that
person will generally get elected, sometimes even without campaigning. According
to the State Election Commission, this predominantly Republican or Democrat
population has the same effect in several Indiana counties.
Local elections matter because what happens in our community
affects our daily lives. What is so great about living in a small county is
that we have the ability to get to know more about our officials both before
and after we elect them. In addition to the newspapers, radio, and flypod.com,
there are usually 2-3 meet the candidate nights in the fall. Candidates often
have their own websites and facebook pages. Talking to our friends and
neighbors who are politically savvy is another option.
I have attended county meetings for more than 17 years. I
have seen elected officials from both parties who have been good public
servants and some from both parties who haven’t. There are conservatives and
liberals in both parties. There are Democrats who are pro life and Republicans
who hate guns, but I haven’t heard any say they don’t believe in God. Just
because individuals belong to a party doesn’t mean they all agree on everything
that party stands for.
Because of my experiences with county officials, I think it
is important to look past party affiliations and see what kind of character the
candidate has (or in some cases, is!) Check out their resumes. Are they
trustworthy? Do they have a skill set that will enable them to do a good job?
What has their past performance been? Do they know how to spend money wisely?
How does being a Democrat or a Republican affect being a
good coroner, surveyor, clerk, recorder, assessor, auditor, treasurer,
prosecutor, or judge? Do you care if your child’s teacher is Republican or
Democrat? How about your doctor, plumber, dentist, mechanic, mailman, or trash
collector? Or do you just want them to do a competent job?
This November- even if you vote for all Republicans or all
Democrats- go down the entire ballot and vote line by line. I like to know the
names and qualifications of every single person getting my approval. And if I
don’t know it, I leave it blank. It’s not a test- it’s a ballot and there are
no points off for leaving something blank. Diversity in party, age, education
levels, gender, and culture brings many perspectives to county offices and
boards. It moves the county forward. It helps prevent corruption. Don’t be
afraid to mix it up a bit and vote both sides.
I hope that someday our legislators decide to abolish single
ticket voting. It is time we make every candidate EARN the votes they get.
Christine Brauer
Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township.
3 comments:
i think that was well said .
agreed.
In theory this is good, but it would have no real effect. People are going to vote straight ticket if they really want to. And guess what. That's their right.
I do agree at the local level, party labels are less significant. People should look at all the candidates.
But not giving them the option of a straight-ticket ballot isn't going to change their behavior to any significant degree.
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