In his latest Kootenai Weekly Conservative, Jeff Ward of the Reagan Republicans lists "Five Myths About Local Elections," including No. 3:
The idea the local government boards are small and insignificant is also completely false. Total local annual budgets for the taxing districts and municipalities in Kootenai County are well over a half a billion dollars (that's a "B" in "billion.") These government districts are responsible for the education of our children, oversight of public safety, providing healthcare, maintaining our roads and bridges, providing water, garbage and sewer services, and the running of our college and libraries. They impact our daily lives more than the state and federal government combined. The voters deserve to know how candidates will manage these important responsibilities and these huge budgets. If you sit out local elections you are abdicating your right to impact government in a huge way. Full column here.
DFO: I agree with Jeff, believe it or not. Local elections are too important to simply allow anyone bearing the letter R who has paid his/her dues to the Reagan Republicans' Strategery arm for campaign help to win seats on nonpartisan boards.
Question: Why don't people understand the importance of local elections?
D.F. Oliveria started Huckleberries Online on Feb. 16, 2004. Oliveria's Sunday print Huckleberries is a past winner of the national Herb Caen Memorial Column contest.
budgets for the taxing districts and municipalities in Kootenai County are well over a half a billion dollars (that's a "B" in "billion.") These government districts are responsible for the education of our children, oversight of public safety, providing healthcare, maintaining our roads and bridges, providing water, garbage and sewer services, and the running of our college and libraries. They impact our daily lives more than the state and federal government combined. The voters deserve to know how candidates will manage these important responsibilities and these huge budgets. If you sit out local elections you are abdicating your right to impact government in a huge way. Full column here.
