Dear Boonville: In about a day and a half, Boonville residents should know who has been newly elected — or re-elected — to several key government positions.
The city is expected to get a new mayor, and several other positions — on City Council, the Boonville School Board and the Cooper County Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees — are contested.
It’s an exciting time because it’s an ideal opportunity for citizens to make their voices loudly known. You might think government is corrupt or useless or — well, pick your modifier — but the fact of the matter is that any problems with our electoral system pale in comparison to those in other parts of the world.
We can go vote without fear of being blown up. We can go vote without fear that our vote will be tossed aside in favor of the overpowering will of a ruthless autocrat.
If you’re on the fence about whether you’ll journey out to the polls come Tuesday, I beg of you — consult your conscience and make every effort to be there. You’ll be doing yourself and the community a favor, regardless of where you live.
There are two questions I want you to consider as you vote this week.
The first question is, In what direction do I want my community to go? Answering that will get you on the path to deciding which candidates to choose, and which ballot initiatives to support or reject. Whether you’re a business owner or a factory worker, a teacher or an administrator, the voting booth serves to level the playing field.
There are things in your life — perhaps your faith and your family, to name a few — that are very valuable to you. Reflect on your beliefs, your hopes and your dreams, and vote as you think is best.
The second question is, How will I remain engaged in my community after the election ends? Commitment to one’s faith, family or neighbors isn’t an obligation that fades with time — if anything, it becomes more needful.
In some ways, Tuesday will mark the end. Some candidates will not be elected. Campaign ads will vanish. The vote will be history.
But the day will also mark the beginning of a new period in history for the city of Boonville and many other places in mid-Missouri.
How do you plan to get involved?
Contact news and online editor Nate Birt by calling 882-5335 or e-mailing nate@boonville
dailynews.com.
