Published: Tuesday, September 22, 2009
LOCAL ELECTIONS
The season is under way
Judging by the weather, you’d never guess that autumn arrives this afternoon. And if not for the picket signs sprouting up along every roadway, you’d never guess election season was under way, either.
But we’re a mere 43 days away from the Nov. 3 general election, and less than four weeks from the day ballots get mailed to registered voters.
This is the year for local elections. Voters will be hiring folks who’ll have a big impact on their everyday concerns — public safety, taxes, growth planning, etc. Three Snohomish County Council incumbents face challenges. A slew of city council races, along with several mayoral contests, will be decided. Positions on school boards, port commissions, and fire, water, sewer and park boards are up for grabs.
Voters will also decide two statewide ballot measures, and the Sno-Isle library system is seeking a levy increase.
There’s a lot to bone up on, and not a lot of time to do it.
First things first: If you’ll be at least 18 years told by Nov. 3 and are not registered to vote, or you haven’t updated your address with the county auditor since moving to Snohomish County, you need to fill out a form. For more information, go to www.vote.wa.gov or call the Snohomish County Auditor’s Office at 425-388-3444.
Once that’s done, you’ll find lots of information sources to learn about the issues and candidates. One, of course, is this newspaper. The news pages will carry election stories and candidate profiles in the coming weeks. The editorial board, which functions separately from the newsroom, will offer endorsements in several high-profile races, starting this week.
Endorsements are a centuries-old tradition at newspapers. We interview scores of candidates, and offer our recommendations simply as food for thought, as a perspective from folks who have followed the issues more closely than you likely have time to do. Readers have told us over the years that they find our endorsements helpful — some have admitted they use them to figure out how not to vote. (Still sounds useful to us.)
Along with your ballot, you’ll receive the county’s official voters’ pamphlet in the mail. It will include statements from candidates in your local races, along with pro and con arguments for ballot measures.
Statements that come directly from the candidates are particularly valuable, and make good grist for conversations with family and neighbors — discussions that can help everyone involved learn more about the issues vital to their community.
But we’re a mere 43 days away from the Nov. 3 general election, and less than four weeks from the day ballots get mailed to registered voters.
This is the year for local elections. Voters will be hiring folks who’ll have a big impact on their everyday concerns — public safety, taxes, growth planning, etc. Three Snohomish County Council incumbents face challenges. A slew of city council races, along with several mayoral contests, will be decided. Positions on school boards, port commissions, and fire, water, sewer and park boards are up for grabs.
Voters will also decide two statewide ballot measures, and the Sno-Isle library system is seeking a levy increase.
There’s a lot to bone up on, and not a lot of time to do it.
First things first: If you’ll be at least 18 years told by Nov. 3 and are not registered to vote, or you haven’t updated your address with the county auditor since moving to Snohomish County, you need to fill out a form. For more information, go to www.vote.wa.gov or call the Snohomish County Auditor’s Office at 425-388-3444.
Once that’s done, you’ll find lots of information sources to learn about the issues and candidates. One, of course, is this newspaper. The news pages will carry election stories and candidate profiles in the coming weeks. The editorial board, which functions separately from the newsroom, will offer endorsements in several high-profile races, starting this week.
Endorsements are a centuries-old tradition at newspapers. We interview scores of candidates, and offer our recommendations simply as food for thought, as a perspective from folks who have followed the issues more closely than you likely have time to do. Readers have told us over the years that they find our endorsements helpful — some have admitted they use them to figure out how not to vote. (Still sounds useful to us.)
Along with your ballot, you’ll receive the county’s official voters’ pamphlet in the mail. It will include statements from candidates in your local races, along with pro and con arguments for ballot measures.
Statements that come directly from the candidates are particularly valuable, and make good grist for conversations with family and neighbors — discussions that can help everyone involved learn more about the issues vital to their community.
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