9/20/2006

Its all over except the shouting, whining and recriminations
Commentary by Bob Lassahn

I will have to start off with an admission that I was wrong. One week ago I expressed doubt that a direct mailed letter to the Republicans of District 6 blasting incumbent County Commissioner Tom Cetola would influence the voters. It now appears that the letter just might have been a boost to the campaign of Linda Busick, although she also deserves credit for waging a door-to-door, grass roots effort that certainly could have been a deciding tactic.

Secondly I will have to admit that I am a longtime Republican, despite my previous roots in the Democratic stronghold of Baltimore City. I started out as unaffiliated (sometimes referred to as independent) but soon thereafter switched to Republican so I could vote in the primaries. Silly me! In Baltimore more than one Republican candidate for an office was akin to a miracle.  I was never the party line voter however and admit (likely to the chagrin of some fellow Republicans) that I have cast the occasional crossover vote in a general election. My comments here are however non-partisan, applying equally to voter of all persuasions.

In evaluating the recent primary election it is striking that only about 23 percent of registered Republicans and 22 percent of registered Democrats bothered to cast their votes in the county commissioner races. Admittedly, four of the candidates in each party did not face opposition for their party nomination (one Republican does not face a challenger in November), but to quote a comment overheard in a local watering hole "the voter turnout was abysmal!"

It is pure speculation that a better voter turnout would have changed the results in the primary, but if anyone out there is upset about how a favored candidate fared and did not vote, look no further than the nearest mirror for a reason. When it comes to electing our leadership every individual represents the potential to make a difference. You just might be the difference of one vote necessary to determine victory or defeat.

One can only hope that November will bring out the voters in greater numbers. There are some hotly contested races to be decided and anyone who cares a hoot about the future of this state should take the time to express their opinion regarding who will be representing them. For those who find some reason not to vote in November, the complaint department will be closed.

There is no discernible reason why the voters failed to engage in the great American right to cast their ballots in the primary. The weather was drop-dead perfect with clear, blue skies and not a hint of rain. Unlike some third world countries there were no marauding thugs threatening physical harm to those who exercise their right to select their leaders and overall the new touch screen process was painless. While some areas experienced "problems" with the machines here at home the election judges seemed to carry out their duties efficiently and the voters apparently were more than capable of pressing the right buttons.

If anyone out there is now motivated to go to the polls in November there is one additional responsibility to fulfill long before a button is pressed for a candidate. Every voter has a duty to be informed when they make that selection. This goes beyond asking someone else for an opinion, an appealing campaign slogan or liking a particular candidate's hairstyle. Campaign literature should provide statements of what a candidate opposes and/or supports. Candidates should be answering hard questions, not running a popularity contest. Know the issues and vote according to individual conscience. The future depends heavily upon the choices made during those few seconds it takes to cast a vote.

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