Another election is near; many folks have already voted through absentee ballot or by going to the Courthouse, but many will vote on Nov. 8. Many people also seem disenchanted with one or more of the candidates at the top of the tickets, and some may choose not to vote at all because of this.
If you are considering not voting, I urge you to think about the candidates in the local races — Iowa House District 29, the board of supervisors, and other contests. These are the people who may have a greater direct influence on your life day-to-day than the candidates at the national level. Even if you choose not to vote for president, please fill out your absentee ballot or go to the polls on Nov. 8 and vote in the local races.
When you do, consider the candidates who will actually serve the public. That’s what “public service” is, after all. They are not there to bolster their ego, enrich themselves, or see a local office as a mere stepping stone to something higher. Vote for the problem-solver, the pragmatist, the person who knows the value of compromise. Candidates who run on a single issue are not effective public servants. There is a lot of work to do and many thorny issues to solve in Iowa — adequate and flexible funding for public education, the crisis in mental health care provision, the conditions for and consequences of drug abuse, the poorly-run and poorly-adminstered privatization of Medicare, serious water quality issues, and more. Vote for a candidate who will get his or her hands dirty, who will reach out to individuals with common interests no matter their political label. Vote for the candidate who will put their ego aside and work to solve problems — who will work for you.
That’s why — in House District 29 — I am voting for Wes Breckenridge. A problem-solver, a real public servant, a good man. A person who has lived, worked, and served this area his entire life. Whether you are a Democrat, a Republican, or an Independent, this is an opportunity to send an effective public servant to Des Moines. Vote for Wes Breckenridge for Iowa House District 29.
Kevin Engel
Newton