Municipal elections are June 8 and area voters will be asked to decide who will govern Louisville and Noxapater for the next four years.
While it is each voters’ civic duty, a constitutional right, a privilege fought for and defended by brave American troops, many do not pair the right to vote with the sacrifice of those that we just celebrated Memorial Day for. The sacrifice and the right to vote are intertwined and should be enough to encourage every registered voter to be at the polls Tuesday, June 8.
If the sacrifice of American troops does not motivate one to vote, then maybe the fact that local government affects your daily life more than national or state elections.
City government can levy certain types of taxes in order to pay for services that are provided to you, the citizen. Cities can enforce criminal ordinances in the police jurisdiction. Construction and development can be regulated through the application of municipal building codes and subdivision regulations. City and municipal governments are responsible for concerns, such as police department budgeting, education reform, lower-level courts, and local infrastructure
The mayor serves as the head of the executive branch of the city. As such, he is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the city to include the city employees, ensuring that bills are paid, execution of municipal contracts and, in general, performing many of the same functions as a CEO of a private corporation.
Everybody didn’t always have the right to vote. There are five amendments—15th, 19th, 23rd, 24th and 26th—in the Bill of Rights that ensure United States citizens over the age of 18, regardless of race or gender, have the right to vote.
Local elections have important consequences and voters should not dismiss them. The aforementioned issues only scratch the surface of what local governments can address and voters should do their part to ensure that these concerns can be resolved.
No one cares about who you think should have won on June 9, if you don’t vote on June 8.
Editor’s note: Joseph McCain is the editor and publisher of the Winston County Journal and maybe reached at 662-803-5236 or 662-773-6241 or newsroom@winstoncountyjournal.com
