A year ago, a presidential election loomed. Westport’s interest was sky high.
This fall, with candidates running for selectmen, RTM and various boards, our enthusiasm seems subterranean.
Hoping to jolt us out of our electoral ennui, Westport’s League of Women Voters is sponsoring a community-wide event. Today, the tongue-trippingly named “Westport — My Town, My Vote” celebration takes place all over town.
From 10 a.m. to noon, League members will man (or woman) tables at coffee shops, delis, hardware stores and (hey, it’s Westport) liquor stores. They’ll offer information on where to vote, and why you should; answer questions, and provide voter registration forms. RTM candidates will be on hand to answer questions.
From 1-3 p.m., a Jesup Green rally will include include candidates for townwide office. The LWV promises the event will be “exuberant,” with music by local bands including Staples’ Sleeping Giants.
National elections are sexy. But local campaigns have a vastly greater impact on most citizens’ lives.
Education budgets. Teardowns and building permits. Assessment appeals. These are things we’re passionate about. They’re decided by people we’ve elected. Or not elected, because we don’t vote.
The LWV wants to educate Westporters about the issues — and the candidates who hope to decide them. It’s up to us to decide if we want to learn.
(For more information on today’s celebration, contact Lisa Shufro: 203-221-1350; lisa.shufro@gmail.com)
Thank you, Dan, for highlighting this LWV effort to get Westporters engaged at the local level. I went to my district’s gathering because I wanted to put a face to the names of my reps who voted for or against the KHS IAQ funding when the school is in their district and who wanted to cut an addtiional $500,000 from the school budget when a huge number of their constituents have school chidlren. We have a real contest in our district so this year is especially important. However, I think citizens can give no-confidence votes in any district by not voting for someone whom you feel is not representing you. I learned today that our RTM reps have to pay for anything they send their consituents from their own pockets. So how do they keep us informed and educated enough to come out and vote on what’s important to us?
if there is time someone should contact ontheissues.org and see if The Organization/Site could, again, in time, include Westport; it’s a database of candidates and issues, and it’s interactivity allows users to actually see who their choice of candidate(s) would be if they voted ‘rationally’, i.e., according to their preferences on the issues.
it should increase interest because significant numbers of voters realize – after using The Site – that their initial candidate of choice isn’t aligned with their preferences on The Issues. the intelligence underlying The Site’s interactivity is based on rigorously peer-reviewed game theoretic rational choice models.
This was a great idea and congrats to the LWV but only a handful of voters showed up. Thanks to the few that did. It would have been very helpful to all if we had decent attendance. Communication between candidate and constituent is something I always appreciate. Stephen Rubin, RTM District 7.
Unfortunately I was out of town yesterday, but I would have loved to have a candid conversation with my reps. And yes I agree this is a great idea, perhaps we could have it twice a year? I’m sure once others are more aware of it turn out will increase.
John Raho,
If you want a candid conversation with your RTM reps, pick up the phone or email. We are always happy to speak with anyone in town about anything.
John McCarthy
RTM District 9