Vote this Election Day

In many states and cities, Tuesday, Nov. 7 is Election Day.

The states with elections include Kentucky, Virginia, Mississippi, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Texas, Florida, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, Arizona, California, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Maine, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon Wyoming, Michigan, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Iowa, Connecticut, Missouri, Ohio, Michigan, and Arkansas.

Additional states will be holding elections throughout November and December.

A few states will be electing governors and members of Congress. In many, local officials will be on the ballot. In some, state legislators and officials will be elected. In a handful, referendums are being offered.

Kentucky and Mississippi are electing governors, and Ohio is voting on a right to abortion issue.

In Washington state, we’re voting for local offices. These always are important because you want the best possible people making decisions about your city, county, and schools.

Especially important this year in Thurston County are the elections for our county and port commissioners.

Last years, voters approved an increase in the size of the two boards from three to five members. This will improve the representation for different parts of the county and allow the commissioners to operate more effectively. Right now, due to open meetings laws, two commissioners aren’t able to talk to each other about issues because that would be considered a quorum of the board and subject to open meeting laws.

I’m looking forward to watching the election results unfold. A lot of good candidates have been willing to run for public office and I hope they win. I was a candidate for Olympia City Commissioner in 1977. It was a tough job, but I appreciate much more the people who are willing to undertake it.