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Thursday, February 28, 2008

Editorial: Vote Counts In Local Races

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    Fox News came to the Estancia Valley last week to ask what people are thinking about the presidential election.
    That vote, however, is months away and residents of Tijeras, Edgewood, Moriarty, Estancia, Willard and Mountainair have another election on Tuesday.
    Residents of these municipalities will be choosing mayors and council members.
    While presidential elections are sexier, local elections that can have more of an impact on our lives. In light of that, it's curious why fewer people vote in municipal elections in which every vote counts. If you don't believe that, just ask Edgewood Mayor Howard Calkins and candidate for mayor Bob Stearley. The pair's last matchup four years ago resulted in a protracted court action in which a judge determined the vote was a tie. Calkins didn't win in a landslide, but instead with the 10 of hearts.
    In that 2004 election, about 30 percent of the eligible voters in Edgewood cast a ballot. It's not hard to imagine that maybe if more people would have voted, there would have been a clearer decision earlier.
    Voting in this country is a valued right, and it benefits all of us to have a decision made. If you do one thing on Tuesday, make it casting a vote.