Issue: Key races up for grabs
Our Opinion: Voters in local, area and state races have the most impact and are the most important.
Voters throughout the Tri-County area have an important responsibility and privilege today. They can exercise their right to vote without fear of reprisal and they should take advantage of this golden opportunity.
There are a myriad of political contests on the ballots throughout the three counties, and some communities are even deciding issues.
Even though in-person absentee voting began on Friday, continued on Saturday and Monday, the heaviest turnout will be today as voters head to their respective precincts. Mailed absentee voting began even earlier than that. Polling places throughout the Tri-County area and Oklahoma will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today.
For Shawnee voters specifically, there are two city commission races to decide. Voters can choose between incumbent John Winterringer and his opponent Will Walker in the Ward 5 contest. In Ward 6, Candie Swinney and Steve Smith are facing off.
City voters will join those throughout Pottawatomie and Lincoln County in deciding the district attorney’s race between incumbent Richard Smothermon and former DA Bill Roberson. The same is true for the Office No. 1 district judgeship contest between Cindy Ferrell Ashwood, Robert Thompson and Barney Barnett.
For some county voters throughout the area there are the district 27 and 28 state representative races along with the district 28 state senate seat.
The candidates voters choose in these races most likely will impact their lives more than some of the other state and federal level political contests. This is not to say those, too, are not important, it’s just that voters have much more of a say in local, county and state races where they have a better opportunity of looking those people in the face and getting their attention than others.
We’ve had several conversations with some of the incumbents and some of the other candidates in these races.
On the local, area and state level, without supporting any candidate in a particular race, we are looking for those who will address and provide solutions to key issues. These include longtime water needs, infrastructure, roads and bridges, education, crime, code enforcement, energy and rail.
As citizens, we have the right to vote our conscious without fear of retribution. What a privilege this is in the great nation we reside.
If you haven’t already, be sure to cast your vote today. Your vote is important. Just think of the millions of people throughout our world who are envious of the opportunity we have to exercise this great right.
