There is a line from one of my favorite shows – The Newsroom – that is perfect in its simplicity.
Every four years people go to schools and fire stations and overthrow the government and there is not a policeman or a soldier in sight, to paraphrase a line delivered by series hero Will McAvoy.
While McAvoy, the character brought to life by actor Jeff Daniels, is recounting a presidential election, the premise is absolutely the same for every election.
We are given the opportunity to completely change the people whom we wish to have run our government.
Everyone should be this lucky.
Much is made of doing your civic duty and casting a ballot, however I have a different challenge for you as you prepare to head to Huron Arena on Tuesday to cast ballots in either the Huron School Board election, an election for Mayor of Huron, or both.
Go vote because you sincerely want to do what you can to get involved in your community.
Pay no mind that between the City of Huron and the Huron School District, more than two-thirds of the taxes that you pay – be it property taxes or sales tax – go toward their respective budgets.
Property taxes are public information, so I will share that taxes on our house and lot exceed $5,000. And like all of you, we shop, and we pay sales tax on all that we purchase.
Can you imagine any scenario, where you paid in that amount of money, and had no interest in what became of it?
Of course not. But its done, every day, in communities all over the country.
When the high school newspaper students toured the paper last fall, I explained to them that the core of our coverage begins with local governmental agencies, as that is where the lions share of the taxes paid wind up.
I explained to the students that we try to attend the meetings, to share information with the public, which seems to have a phobia of attending meetings themselves.
I added that we are fortunate here, as our elected officials do things correctly and judiciously, following the rules and being open with their actions.
Thats not always the case.
Thank you to Huron Mayoral candidates Mark Robish, Drew Weinreis and Bryan Smith, as well as school board candidates Tim Van Berkum, Ray Cardona and Brittany Layher.
Thank you for putting yourself out there, to try to do your part to improve the city or the school district.
Most of what takes place at public meetings is mundane action that is done, just because you have to, to keep the wheels of government turning.
But during rare moments, a decision can change the course of a community, and its at that time that it is important to have the right person in place to accomplish the task.
I dont know who that is. I know for whom I am casting my ballot, and encourage you to do your due diligence, research the candidates and then….
Go and vote!
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