Dog's Breakfast

This has been one of the best local election seasons in recent memory. Despite some last-minute, uh, confusion about a mailer and a Mayor, the campaign rhetoric has been clean. Tough, yes, and pointedly focused on issues, which is as it should be.

But the field of candidates is of unprecedented quality, at both ends of the ideological spectrum. There were no joke candidates, no DNA, no Barbi Boeger, no knuckleheads. Whether you agree or disagree, each of the city council and county supervisor candidates is qualified, committed, and honorable. Whoever prevails, our local government will be in capable hands. Naturally, I have my preferences as to who is better suited, more closely aligned with my values, and likely to pursue policies I support, and so should you. So do yourself a favor, get your tush out of the Barcalounger, get it down to the polling place, and cast your vote.

And not because of the usual "if you don't vote you can't complain" nonsense. But because the campaign has been hard fought but fairly and respectfully. Reward these candidates with your attention and your participation, if only to encourage candidates in future races to follow suit. If turnout is typically low because people are alienated by caustic rhetoric and character attacks, then when the tone is mutually respectful, the turnout should go up. Help prove this hypothesis, and reap the rewards in future election seasons.