This election cycle is all about local offices and neighbors declaring their candidacy to serve their community.
This year, over 30 local offices were due for an election from Midvale to New Meadows. These range from cemetery district board members to school board to city council to mayor. All of these seats fill important roles in our communities and the districts they are a part of have the ability to set tax rates.
Out of the 33 local offices up for election, only eight races are competitive this cycle. This means that more than one person declared their candidacy for the same seat in less than 25% of possible local races. It means that we will have fewer choices than possible when we go to mark our ballots. In Idaho, when there are not enough candidates to have a competitive race (i.e., a race with more than one choice) no election is held in an effort to save money.
Thanks are of course due to those who have stepped forward this year to give voters a choice in important local races.
It is quite possible that our neighbors currently filling these seats are doing a good job executing the duties of their office and that they should get re-elected. The inverse, of course, can also be true.
This isn’t about any one official currently in office. It’s about giving the community more choice when it comes to choosing who represents us in government. Democracy works best when voters have choices on the ballot. Competition allows for the best candidates and ideas to rise to the top.
When the next election rolls around we hope that you, the community member, will consider running for local office. If more community members declare their candidacy for elected office, voters will have more choice on the ballot. With more choice comes a healthier local democracy and government.
This (and every) election season The Record Reporter is endorsing you for local office.
