Mitrick, Kilgore belong on the ballot
My advice to commissioners Lori Mitrick and Doug Kilgore. Go for it. Run a write-in campaign for the November election. You belong on the ballot anyway.
I’m not saying that because I think the outcome of the May primary wasn’t a true reflection of voters’ sentiments.
And I’m certainly not saying that because I think the park project Mitrick and Kilgore support is a grand idea. Seizing Highpoint and part of Lauxmont Farms is a misuse of eminent domain. The public has been misled about how much it will cost. And, given the county’s other needs, a new park should be low on the commissioners’ list of priorities.
So why should they run?
Because without Mitrick and Kilgore as candidates, thousands of voters will go to the polls in November to select candidates for commissioners. They will have four choices. They will have three seats to fill.
And that’s simply not enough choice.
State election law is crafted to ensure the board of commissioners has a representative from each party. That’s nice for the parties. That’s unfair to voters who want a say on who should hold the county’s highest elected positions.
Who should be more important? Voters, of course.
Voters had plenty of choices for commissioners in the primary — seven Republicans and three Democrats. But voter turnout is poor in municipal primaries. This year, 19 percent of eligible voters turned out. So we wind up with commissioners essentially being elected by 19 percent of voters.
Even that number is deceiving. Remember, voters who aren’t affiliated with a major party can’t vote in a primary. They’re the ones really cheated under current law. They have no say in whittling the field of commissioner candidates. They get to the poll in November and have four choices for three seats. Why bother?
State election law needs to be changed so that the number of candidates advancing from the primary is twice the number of available seats. Let three Repulbicans advance. Let three Democrats advance. Who cares if the board of commissioners winds up with three Republicans or three Democrats? These aren’t partisan positions.
Under that arrangement, Mitrick and Kilgore would already be on the ballot in November. Mitrick finished third among Republicans in the primary. Kilgore placed third among Democrats.
So run as a write-in, Lori. Go for it, Doug.
Voters deserve the choice.
Besides, it will make for a far more entertaining commissioners’ election.