Election Reflection

ã Dr. Gary D. Lemmons, July 23, 2006

We had a primary election this week.  The Democrats and Republicans put forth  their offerings and we chose a party and, depending upon how we viewed it, selected either the "lesser of two evils" or the "greater of two goods."

In my home county of Gordon, we returned two incumbents to the board of education.  One of those, the chairwoman, was returned by a margin of slightly over 100 votes.  There is a message there, methinks, and I hope she listens.  We elected a new member (a retired teacher) to a seat where the incumbent was not seeking re-election.

In the race for the two county commission seats, the results were different.  Both the incumbents were soundly defeated.  As one was a Democrat and the other a Republican, their loss has to be attributed to personality or performance or both.  Party posturing doesn't seem to have played a role in their defeats.

On a positive note, the voters (in both Democratic and Republican primaries), by a 70% + majority, voted to change our form of county government.  Under the proposed plan, commissioners would be elected from districts in the county as opposed to the current at-large method.  The commission chairperson would continue to be elected by the county at-large.

This is a good step for our county.  It will make the commissioner more accountable to the district which she or he represents.  It will limit campaigning and, if nothing else, reduce "lawn litter" (campaign signs in people's yards).  Government is less corrupt and more accountable the closer it remains to the people (despite the smell). 

Of course, I know that I am a "voice crying in the wilderness," but I still believe the best way to reform government would be to amend the U. S. Constitution and the Georgia State Constitution to provide for the enactment of term limitations, especially for the legislative offices: i.e., Congress, General Assembly, County Commission, City Council, School Board, etc. This will never happen because the current incumbents will never vote themselves out of a job!

At any extent, I am encourage by the results of our election, at least in Gordon County.  I believe that voters are becoming more sophisticated.  We are not going to let the politicians do whatever they want and behave in whatever manner they chose without holding them accountable.  This is the American way.