The political season is heating up. Eyes are on the Republican debates. Battles over the dates of the Presidential primaries have begun.
And Shawnee is just a little over five motnhs away from a municipal election. Whooops.........how did that sneak in there?
That's right, on April 3, 2012 Shawnee voters (well at least 10% of them) will go to the polls and make decisions concerning 4 council seats and the mayor. And 90% of them will sit on their butts and do nothing.
But watch what happens in the Presidential election. Almost 80% of Shawnee's voters will vote.
I'm not saying don't vote in the Presidential election. I'm saying get out there and vote for your local government. The President does not control your property taxes, sales taxes, street repairs, emergency services (police and fire), parks etc. When was the last time a President plowed snow? Or filled a chuck hole? Or got out in the parks to keep them functional? Never.
Citizen participation in local governement in Shawnee sucks. And the local government has more of an effect on your daily lives than any other government level.
Anyway, back to the upcomig elections on April 3, 2012. Mark your calendars, as that is just a little over 5 months away.
The five people up for reelection are:
Jeff Meyers, Mayor
Jim Neighbor, Ward 1 council (election for him, he was appointed to fill an unexpired term)
Neal Sawyer, Ward 2 council
Dawn Kuhn, Ward 3 council
Mickey Sandifer, Ward 4 council
Right now I can think of 3 of the above who definitely should not be returned to office, and I have mixed emotions on the other two. More on that later.
