Gordon Forgey

Tuesday, November 5, is election day. That is deadline day, the day that votes must be cast or ballots postmarked.

This is primarily a local election. Some issues, such as initiatives 517 and 522, and advisory votes will be on the ballot for every voter in the county and the state for that matter. Some votes are regional in nature.

However, most of the ballot choices are as local as they come. No ballot is particularly lengthy as local elections appear on the official ballot only in the areas eligible to vote on them.

That means, local ballots may be short and sweet, but no less important.

Throughout the county, a number of contested races exist for school district directors, for town and city council, mayor and fire districts.

Additionally, there are a variety of public taxing districts looking for support in the way of levies. These districts range from the towns themselves to park and recreation districts to cemetery districts.

The St. John School District is seeking support for major renovations to school infrastructure. Palouse is seeking to increase its base tax rate.

This election may not be selecting national offices, but it is fundamentally important to the continuation of local governments and local services.

The glamour may be missing, but the importance is there.

Gordon Forgey

Publisher