“All politics is local” – Take part in every election

I remember the first time I voted. I registered as a Republican to vote for Congressman Pete McCloskey of California. There was no way a sitting president wouldn’t be the party’s nominee, but I thought it was important to run against Richard Nixon, who was nominated in August, two months after Watergate. I also voted for George McGovern, along with several others. Nixon won in a landslide victory, winning 60.7% of the vote in 49 states. I’ve voted in every national election since then. It’s always felt like a duty.

I wish I could brag about my voting record in state and local elections, but I can’t. I’ve had a busy life. I didn’t give it much thought. I didn’t care who represented me. What difference does it really make?

My perspective has changed since I became involved in town government. Scarborough is such a great place to live because of countless decisions made by elected officials over the years. These decisions affect the roads we drive on, the schools we send our kids to, how we preserve our environment and keep us safe. They balance the needs of dog owners and beach walkers, businesses and residents, young families and retirees. They codify strategies for dealing with growth, traffic and climate change. Ultimately, our taxes are determined by these decisions.

The decisions of local officials affect your and my daily lives more than any national or state election, yet when there is an election that only concerns Scarborough, most of us don’t vote.

The voter turnout in June’s election shows that there are many people like me in this town. There are 17,410 eligible voters in Scarborough, of which 3,133 (18%) voted. The school budget was on the ballot. School Board candidates were also on the ballot. This election selected Democratic and Republican candidates for the fall election. The choice made last June will have a lasting impact.

Low voter turnout in local and off-year national elections creates opportunities for people with extreme views and positions. People who feel passionate about any issue know that Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill was right when he said, “All politics is local.” When city councils, school boards and state legislatures are controlled by ideologues, their opinions become law.

It’s fair to say that Scarborough has done well under the leadership of a voting minority, but it’s also true that the political landscape in our country has changed dramatically, and entrusting elections to a minority going forward may not be the best choice.

Scarborough is blessed with smart, thoughtful, committed citizens from all political walks of life, and the will to serve this community as elected officials. They have sought to balance competing needs and priorities with compassion and pragmatism. They have accomplished this largely without my vote, and likely without yours. Going forward, it may be worth considering the wisdom of electing local officials and leaving it to others to decide local issues.

Don Cushing is a member of Scarborough Town Council. The views and opinions expressed in Council Corner are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Scarborough Town Council.

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