Vote on Tuesday

Tuesday, Nov. 6, is election day, and even if it's an off-year election here in Montana, with no gubernatorial or presidential candidates, it's still an important election.

It's been said that all politics are local. The global terrorist threat and wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are good proof that's not so.

But still, there's a raft of local candidates and issues that should attract another bumper year of voters — from the county commissioners' office to mosquito control, and from state legislators to a second judge at Justice Court.

In Whitefish, voters get to decide if the mayoral term should increase from two years to four. The current mayor has said it's difficult to get people to run for four-year council terms. A four-year mayoral term might make it harder to find willing mayoral candidates.

A former city councilor wanted to know, "If it ain't broke, why fix it?" Another former councilor pointed out that if the city gets a bad mayor, it could take an extra two years before they can vote in a new one. He also suggested a requirement that mayors have prior council experience.

Ask anyone in the Flathead what's the number one local issue, and there's a very good chance the answer has something to do with growth. That means traffic, schools, crime, water quality, views and jobs.

Voters might want to stop and think about which candidates should be talking about which issues. Elected state and county officials can't do much about federal issues, other than lobby, protest or negotiate.

But local and state officials can have something to say about how growth should proceed in the valley. Some will call for more regulations, some will focus on protecting property rights, and some will dodge questions all day long.

Finding middle ground is one way to choose a candidate, but angry voters are not likely to compromise. Especially if they're worried about a gravel pit next door or whether additional government regulations will force home prices through the roof.

There's evidence even the most hardened voters can be nice to candidates they say they dislike. Several candidates have told me similar stories about posting campaign signs around the valley. Residents will answer the door and tell candidates they intend to vote for the other guy, but when asked if it's OK to place a sign on their property, they'll say, "Sure, why not?"

A lot of voters are going to tick off choices according to straight party line, which leaves the levies and initiatives.

Is mosquito control Republican or Democratic? Is extending the Whitefish mayoral term from two years to four Democratic or Republican?

Three of the six statewide ballot initiatives were rejected last week by the Montana Supreme Court. Among the remaining three is a proposal to change the name of the Montana State Auditor to Montana State Insurance Commissioner. How important is a name? Enough people must have thought so to get a petition passed.

Everyone should get out and vote. Not early and often, as the joke goes, but thoughtfully and surely.