Voting is Important

Please vote. You can vote today until 7 p.m. and tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

It may seem to be too much trouble to work your way to the end of the ballot and make your choices in the school board races, but considering that 1/3 of our population consists of students in K-12, it's pretty important that you choose.

I'm the last name (alphabetically) in the 5-person race for the open at-large seat (no incumbent). If you're still trying to decide how to vote in that race, just remember that I'm FOR the good things and AGAINST the bad things.

Changing the Conversation

The campaign has been short and amicable and many of you have already voted. Whether you have or not, it's important that you read Jerod Clapp's N-T coverage of the campaign for the three seats on this year's ballot.

I am very pleased to see how my campaign has helped to change the conversation this year. From reading Clapp's coverage, it's easy to see how the issues I've raised have become the keys to the race.

Today's story is extensive and revealing. Where I'm quoted, it's mostly accurate. I have no quibbles. Although I'm the only candidate who has come out against this year's referendum, you can clearly tell that my opponents aren't entirely confident that the $87 million tax referendum measure will succeed.

Each seems to be ready to accept a "no" vote. That's a good thing. The new board - even if it has but one new member - will face challenges either way.

And while it takes some reading between the lines, it seems that there are, among the candidates, two teams with varying loyalties. I suppose I'm one of the true independents in this race. I won't go deeply into my analysis here, if only because I hope to be working with a couple of these people later. But it's very interesting to suss out the dynamic at play.

Suffice it to say that the conflict between Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, and King Henry II, the sovereign of England in the 12th Century comes to mind.

The story alludes to cross-endorsements in the 3 races, as well, and while I have my own preferences, I am not allied with either of these teams.

You can vote every day this week from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at six locations in the county and then again on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at nine locations.

You can also vote at the Floyd County Clerk's office through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and then again on Monday from 8 a.m. to noon.

On Tuesday, November 8, there are 19 locations open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can find all of these locations and hours here. Sample ballots are viewable here.