Every presidential election brings out the highest ratio of voter turnout in four years. This year will be no exception.
According to the New York Times, more than 70 percent of Ohio’s registered voters cast a ballot in the 2012 election. That shows this state’s voters are engaged. We care.
A sense of frustration with national politics and/or candidates has polarized a significant segment of our population. But that shouldn’t deter anyone from voting. Locally, important races are being decided, and Richland Source is trying to help north central Ohio voters make an informed decision.
Election preview stories began publishing here on Oct. 18. They will continue each weekday through Nov. 1. The stories themselves spotlight the candidates seeking local office, but more intriguing to me were the videos within the stories.
If we’re fortunate, none of us will have to see the Sheriff or the Prosecutor do their jobs up close and personal. Yet we decide which individuals sit in those seats.
Four candidates are vying for two Richland County Commissioner chairs, that’s two-thirds of the most significant board in the county — joining commissioner Marilyn John. How many of us have attended a commissioner’s meeting, or heard any of these folks speak?
This is your chance.
Do you want to get a sense of a candidate’s passion for their job? Gauge the depth of their understanding for the position?
The videos within these stories offer an enhanced opportunity to meet candidates for sheriff, prosecutor, commissioner and recorder.
After viewing each of the 10 videos our staff produced, I drew some enlightening conclusions about who will earn my vote. Frankly, some of them surprised me.
I strongly urge Richland County voters to go beyond the traditional story, and listen to the videos. We gave your candidates a chance to speak directly to you. They took that opportunity and the results are available for you to judge.
You may find a candidate more articulate than another, more focused than another, more informed than another, more energetic than another, more in line with your ideals than another.
I hope you do. These videos should help you draw conclusions and make the best decision when entering the voting booth.
Richland Source is not endorsing candidates this fall, but we are adamant that the community has the opportunity to make an informed decision.
Voting is a tremendous right, and carries with it a heavy responsibility. We owe it to ourselves to have the best representation possible.
I hope you read our stories. But I strongly encourage you to view the brief videos.
Locally, every vote is so important, and we’re convinced you’ll get a better sense of who should earn your vote by listening to the candidates as they speak directly to you.
