Cindy Grosz: Local Elections Are Just As Important as The Presidential Election

Where I live, there are several local elections taking place in September. Many towns and villages throughout the country are holding elections as well.

If you think it’s not important to meet the candidates, learn the issues and make sure you vote, think again.

Every get a parking ticket in your local village? Who votes and pays for the judges, clerks and staff of these buildings? Who elects sanitation commissioners, the people on school boards that decide on textbook purchases, busing zones and taxes?

It’s you. I bet you can’t even tell your friends who these elected officials are and where their offices are located. Sad, because you actually pay for it.

Let me share with you some examples from my own area, but I am sure if you researched, these practices are local to you.

You also pay for all the perks these jobs come with. For example, job security for family and friends. Long Island’s Newsday published articles about how several families make over six figure incomes:

If you need any reason to get involved in local politics, here is one. Assemblyman Brian F. Curran lost his $70,000 (approximation) seat in an upset election to a Democrat in a Republican neighborhood. His reward from the local GOP, Curran became a public administrator for Nassau County, with a huge salary increase.

Wouldn’t you like to be fired and then rewarded like that. Remember, it’s your votes, your tax dollars and your lack of education that supports this.

Let’s talk about Albany. Before COVID and Black Lives Matter, New York was bankrupt, crime was up, the largest state exodus numbers, the threat of losing two congressional seats by redistricting, schools were failing and socialism was growing through progressive legislation being passed by the assembly and state senate. People were angry. With New York City falling apart, instead of gaining local and state senate seats, projections are that Republicans are going to lose more seats. It doesn’t make sense.

Simple tips to get involved in the Political Process

Read your local newspapers, not ads, but articles. Meet local candidates and elected officials. They welcome phone calls, emails and visits when we live in times other than COVID.

Start to recognize names and titles you see over and over.

Register to vote. Make sure everyone eligible in your household is registered as well. Sign up early in for absentee ballots for college students, those abroad and those who are confined to assistant living centers.

Talk with your friends. If you discuss recipes, new books and traveling, you can talk about who represents you on a school board.

Get involved in various grassroots organizations that are not tied to political parties. Their goals are based on personal beliefs and altruism. It’s also a great way to meet new friends with similar interests.

Question all voting deadlines and in person voting dates. All to often, people don’t vote locally because they assume that all voting takes place on one day in one location. Call schools, call your local village or town offices or even the local publications.

Use your social media wisely and share details, screenshots of flyers and photos. Create a live event and invite neighbors to discuss a topic, meet a candidate or walk through a step-by-step process of voting.

Boards Of Elections

How many of you know where your local board of elections offices are located? Who runs them, who is on staff? Are we all aware of the process of actual counting of votes? How do votes qualify to be counted and what steps are followed through? Who are the paid staffers and how much are they paid? Many taxpayers would be amazed to learn that many who have authority within the Board of Elections not only receive a nice paycheck, but also get perks.

Climbing Up The Ladder

Many local politicians have aspirations for higher office. Many will attempt this successfully. In a time where more politicians from both ends of the spectrum, more local politicians will seek higher offices. It’s best to know their stands on issues and voting histories early on. This might be the best reason to vote in local races.

Donald Trump is a once-in-a-lifetime Candidate we may never see again, a non politician.

Let’s keep his goal of draining the swamp forever by voting locally, statewide and nationally for candidates who share our interests and spend our taxpayer money wisely.