If you are unhappy with the status quo in politics, Tuesday is your opportunity to change it. If you support your officials, don’t take them for granted. A low, if not record setting low, voter turnout is expected this Election Day because the highest office at the top of the ticket are the State Assembly candidates. That is considered an “off year” election.
But The Two River Times feels strongly there is never an “off year” election. Every vote in every election matters. Local, county and state government officials have an enormous influence on how we live our lives. With home rule being as strong as it is, local elections are critically important. Local officials basically determine your quality of life, the quality of your schools, the safety of your crosswalks, where you park, the safety of your neighborhood, and the amount of property taxes you pay. Land use is a critically important part of a town’s character and that too is held in local hands. Think torn down historic homes in Rumson, condos in Colts Neck or major recreation facilities in Marine Park. Services such as road maintenance and trash collection fall under their jurisdiction. In some towns, they legislate when you can mow your lawn and when your garage door must be closed. County officials control major roadways, supervise and fund Brookdale Community College, High Tech High School and MAST, run the golf courses, the parks system, the acquisition of property for those facilities, has a significant say in the development of Fort Monmouth and are major players in the development of Fort Hancock. The county also runs social services and drivers licenses and registrations. The state assembly must work with the senate to create laws that impact every state resident and business owner, allocate funds for the arts, fund state universities and assist in funding community colleges, run state police, state roads, determine taxes, manage emergencies like Super Storm Sandy and allocate federal funds. They either follow the lead of the sitting governor or stops that office cold. So, if you are unhappy with any of these aspects of your life, Tuesday is the time to express your opinion through your vote. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Educate yourself and cast a vote for the person you most want in office. This country is the envy of the world because of this right. “Off year” or not, get out and change the things you don’t like and keep the things you do. People have given their lives for us to have this privilege. Don’t throw away this powerful gift secured by a free society.
