The Campbell Reporter

Letters & Opinions

Casting your vote at local level has an impact

Election Day is nearly at our doorstep. As we enter the final week, we are being bombarded by literature, phone calls and television commercials on candidates, propositions and measures. At this point, I am sure every one of us is ready for it all to end. A universal, "Enough already" has probably become the new family anthem in many households.

It would be easy to tune out the entire process and leave our fate in the hands of others. Then the non-voters have no one but themselves to blame for the results if they are unhappy with the outcome.

So Campbell residents, consider this.

Our town has a population of slightly more than 38,000 residents. Of that number, only 18,000 residents are registered voters, according to the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters. That's an incredibly small number, which certainly puts weight behind the phrase "every vote counts."

This year, unlike last November, Campbell voters have decisions to make that are right in their back yard. We have a city council race and school board members to elect. In both cases the results will have major impacts on our small community. These elections are a prime example of why it is so important to go to the polls and cast your vote.

In the city council race, how we vote will determine the future of our town because these are the people who will govern it. In the Campbell Union High School Board District, our votes will not only determine who we elect to the board and the future of our high school district; we also have a bond measure to vote on. That result will decide if the district receives monies to fund further improvements at our high school facilities. There are also trustee choices to be make at West Valley Community College, which educates many from our community.

These are important decisions that have a direct impact on each one of us and the quality of life in Campbell.

When I was walking in my neighborhood the other day, I ran into one of our councilmen, who was campaigning for a candidate. He told me when he knocked on a resident's door, the individual told him he didn't pay attention to local elections.

My response was simply, "That's really unfortunate."

Is it any wonder, as is often the case, that so few cast the vote for so many?

We have an amazing system in this country--a democratic process-- that many Americans choose simply to ignore. What will it take to engage our communities so voters take advantage of a system countries across the globe only dream of having?

Voting at the local level is a terrific place to begin. This elections may not be sexy or contain all the national drama, but they are the one place where an individual's vote is truly transparent.

So pick up that sample ballot and fill it in ahead of time. That will speed you right through the polling booth. And if you can't make it to the polls on Nov. 7 the Registrar of Voters wants to make it easy for you. They have opened up the polls for early voting on the weekend of Nov. 4-5 at the registrar's main offices in San Jose.

That gives you lots of choices and no excuses. Remember, there are only 18,000 Campbell residents determining our future. If you are one of them, make sure you vote.

Moryt Milo is the editor of The Campbell Reporter. She can be reached at 408.200.1051 or via email at mmilo@community-newspapers.com.