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OUR OPINION
In case you live under a rock and haven’t heard, Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
I’ll let you seek out other outlets to navigate national politics. What’s most important is our local elections. I hear people periodically say they aren’t going to vote because it doesn’t matter. Especially if you live in a blue state like Washington or a red state like Idaho. When it comes to the presidential election, I get it. But the elections that will have the most effect on your day-to-day life is our local elections. And in those cases, your vote does indeed count.
In the primary election this past August, the difference between incumbent Pend Oreille County commissioner Robert Rosencrantz and challenger Brandy Warren was one vote. One single vote. In Washington, it’s a top-two primary meaning the top two vote getters move on to the general, so even though both Rosencrantz and Warren are Republicans, they appear on the general election ballot.
While only voters in Pend Oreille County’s District 2 voted in the primary, the entire county will vote in the general. Sames goes for the race between Gerry David Bradbury and Ernie Hood who both moved on from the primary to vie for the PUD seat currently held by Curt Knapp, who is not seeking re-election.
The Miner typically holds a candidates forum before the general election. That was not possible this year because of scheduling conflicts with some of the candidates, which is unfortunate. We have a very specific and consistent way we hold forums. If one candidate in a race cannot attend, we don’t let the other participate. We also do not give questions to candidates beforehand.
This is not to catch candidates in a “gotcha” situation. We think that to lead our community, you have to know the issues, think on your feet and be able to answer questions without preparation.
Fortunately, we were able to schedule sit downs with the four local candidates. I spent about an hour with each one. The candidates did not receive or review the questions before the camera started rolling, but we believe the questions we asked were relevant enough they should have been prepared for them.
And they were. We don’t endorse candidates at The Miner and we don’t intend to start. I can tell you that each of these four people have good intentions and want to serve their community. Serve you and me. For that I am grateful. It takes a lot of gumption to put yourself out there like that, and we believe that lively debate and contested political races help raise the best cream to the top.
None of this matters, however, if you don’t vote. There’s still six days before Election Day. If you are able, drop your ballot into one of the seven drop boxes throughout the county, or better yet, walk it into the Pend Oreille County Auditor’s Office. If you can’t do that, drop your ballot in the mail, but do it as soon as possible. New postal regulations are slowing ballot delivery and your ballot must be received by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, or postmarked by Nov. 3.
Drop boxes are located in the alley alongside the old courthouse on Fourth Street in Newport, the Camas Center for Community Wellness in Cusick, Cusick Town Hall, Ione Public Library, Metaline Town Hall, Metaline Falls Town Hall, and the South Pend Oreille Fire and Rescue Station on Highway 2 near Diamond Lake.
Vote. It counts.
-Michelle C. Nedved Publisher
