You are so right, these are the votes that have real and immediate impact.

Lack of interest in local politics is one of my pet peeves. Here in May-Berryville, our good-ol-boy Mayor stepped down after 20 years. One of his cronies from the Town Council stepped up to what he thought would be an uncontested race. He was surprised by a bid from my neighbor, who carried a promise of change and service.

Unfortunately, she underestimated the power of the good-ol-boy network, and the mouth service paid by citizens tired of the continual same-o same-o.

In a town of 3500, we have nearly 2500 registered voters. Not bad. However, on Tuesday, only 501 people turned out at the polls. That’s a 20% turnout. Election officials were pleased. The average for local elections? Less than 10%

Me? I think it is a disgrace.

Last fall, in a hotly contested county election, where the majority of the school board and the county board of supervisors were up for re-election. County population? 12,000. Number of registered voters? 9000. Turnout? 4600.

That’s better, but that was also our Presidential Primary. Would the good citizens have made that type of effort if it had simply been a local election? i’m guessing not.