Time Does Fly

It is countdown to the local elections and the silliness continues. Hard to believe it has been a month since last I typed - silly high school reunion took up a HUGE chunk of that time, my apologies.

The fourth debate between the mayoral candidates was last week and the final is this week. This would be interesting except that we keep going over exactly the same territory, which can happen in a one-note opposition campaign apparently. Last week's debate was interesting in regards to the questions being asked by the business person on the panel who wanted to know what good the challenger would and/or could say about the city if faced with the prospect of a company wanting to locate here. Apparently nothing. Or maybe the gentleman simply was unprepared for the question.

Interesting timing in today's paper however, on the front page TA DA! a new business bringing new jobs and YUP! the current administration was involved and the company in questions was quite impressed with the speed and smoothness of the process. Seems the "doom and gloom" aspects didn't play a part, didn't scare anyone off etc. Hmmm... imagine that.

Another thing to make you go "hmmmm"... I've noticed that a good number of the houses around town with the opponent's signs in the yard are rather run down, vacant lots or otherwise what the gentleman is pointing to as problems in the community. Is this his base of support? Or is this a way to call attention to the problems he sees? How will campaigning in vacant lots help the campaign? Seems odd.

And yet maybe not... maybe what we have is a battle between the optimists in the community, the big picture plan for the future types and the pessimist we're all going down in flames right this minute so we can't look any further than right now types.

Me? I like the optimist perspective. I've lived lots of other places and I like it here. We have a lot going for us that many towns our size do not have. Of course we have problems. Who doesn't? But on a truly "real" scale they are not insurmountable. They are not worth ignoring possibilities for a better future over.

There are state and local issues to think about too. (1) a renewal levy for the city schools (that's no new money people so your taxes will NOT go up); (2) a casino issue that the Catholic Church is against but really why the heck should we send our money to the surrounding states and if people can make their own choices and chose to play the slots, let them; (3) a livestock board which in my opinion is not going to do what they are saying it will - and come on how in the world is it going to have anything to do with contaminated imported food from, say China, like the ads are suggesting? The proposed board only has (supposedly) influence in Ohio over Ohio farms; (4) the county sales tax - only a 1/2% and you'd think it was the end of the world. Frankly I'd rather that than my income or property tax go up, I can choose not to shop and avoid this tax if I want to; and (5) various city offices (auditor, law director, municipal judge, municipal clerk) running unopposed; (6) school board candidates; (7) township trustees I can't vote for/against being a city dweller; (8) some village council folk; (9) city council folk not in my ward; (10) an amendment to the city charter which actually makes sense and (11) some other school and tax levies in the area.

So, a busy ballot and it isn't even an "off-year" (as in congressional) election. I suppose that makes it an "off-off-year".

Thanks to the local League of Women Voters for getting the info out!

While time seems to have flown in the last month, this will be a long week of ads and pot shots and assorted silliness as the election looms. What we simply can not afford to lose sight of is that we have to vote. We have to not for one minute think that anyone has a "lock" on anything. Elections can be lost by apathy, or won if you're the other guy.

If you want you candidate, your issue to prevail....

GET OFF YOUR BUTT, GO TO THE POLLS ON November 3rd AND VOTE.