Election Day is upon us, and we must remember that it is a vital part of the democratic process. It is an opportunity for citizens to exercise their right to vote and have a say in the selection of their local government representatives. Local government officials are responsible for making decisions that impact the daily lives of their constituents, including decisions related to taxes, public safety, infrastructure, education, and much more. Therefore, every vote cast in local elections is critical and can make a significant difference in the outcome of the election.
Many individuals may underestimate the significance of local elections and choose not to participate in the voting process. However, the decisions made by local government officials can have a more direct impact on the lives of citizens than decisions made by federal officials. For instance, local officials are responsible for managing and funding schools, roads, and public safety services. If citizens fail to vote in local elections, they risk having their needs and concerns overlooked by those in power, ultimately affecting the quality of life in their communities.
It is also essential to understand that every vote counts in local elections. In some cases, local elections are decided by only a handful of votes. This has been the case several times in Lackawanna County, even right in the Borough of Dunmore. In 2019, the race for Mayor of Dunmore was decided by single digit votes. During the same election, the race for a seat on Borough Council was likewise determined by a small margin of votes.
Furthermore, local elections can have long-term consequences. Local officials who are elected have the power to influence policy decisions and allocate resources in their communities for years to come. A community's quality of life can be greatly impacted by the policies and initiatives put in place by local officials. Thus, every vote cast in local elections is crucial, and citizens must take their civic duty seriously by participating in the election process.
The upcoming County Commissioner election should be important to all of us as well. There are several upcoming changes to us all on a county level with an impending reassessment, a prison that is constantly under scrutiny and an entire new County Department of Health underway. All of these county level changes will be in the hands of who we elect this May and following November. We have a total of eight candidates vying for 3 seats. While often times, these types of races can be, well, boring, this year’s county commissioner race is full of excitement because the voters have several of candidates with whom to choose from. And that is the best part of our democracy. It is up to us to choose who will represent us.
A few years ago, I had the honor of representing four individuals from a neighboring county, two Republicans and two Democrats, who were seeking to run for the position of County Commissioner. The individuals had filed their petitions to run for office, but unfortunately, their petitions were challenged by others who sought to remove them from the ballot. If the challenge was successful, only the incumbent candidates would remain on the ballot.
I fought hard to ensure that our clients remained on the ballot and that the citizens of that county had the right to vote from several candidates, accurately and adequately representing them in government. As a result, the citizens of that county had the opportunity to vote for the candidates of their choice and to exercise their right to participate in the democratic process.
I was proud to have represented these individuals in their quest to serve their community and to have played a role in ensuring that the election process was fair and transparent. I firmly believe in the importance of upholding the democratic principles of fairness and justice, and I will continue to fight for the rights of my clients to have their voices heard in the political process. And more importantly, I will continue to exercise my right to vote and make a difference in each and every election so that I can support my candidates whomever they may be. Please remember that your vote matters and each and every local election matters to all of us living in the Borough of Dunmore, the County of Lackawanna, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the United States of America because every vote cast in local elections is an opportunity to make a positive impact and improve the quality of life in our communities.
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