One way or another, the November 8, 2016 election will go down as a watershed moment in American history. What will we say when our grand- or great-grand-children ask, “where did you stand?” Public opinion surveys indicate that too many of us don’t plan to stand at all. Put off by the media circus, even some lifelong voters are saying they’ll just sit back and see how things shake out—thus avoiding any responsibility for the consequences. If we don’t stand up to vote on election day, we toss aside the hard-fought right to shape our own destiny.
Regardless of individual preferences, the League of Women Voters urges everyone to take a stand—and to face the issues at stake. Although the person we choose to be our president can’t dictate exactly how things will go, he or she will make decisions that establish the direction that the country will go. Will we have more or less war? Will we have more or less economic growth? Will we have more or less environmental protection? Will we have more or less renewable energy? Will we have more or less racial justice? Will we have more or less racial, ethnic, and gender equality? Will we have more or less affordable health care? Will we have more or less access to higher education?
The candidates we choose for our state offices and for our County Council will make decisions that even more directly affect our everyday lives. The consequences of our votes may determine whether we have more or less opportunity for living-wage jobs, more or less air and water pollution, more or less traffic congestion, more or less affordable housing, more or less equality in opportunities for quality education, more or less reform of our criminal justice system.
Of course, we won’t all agree on exactly what we value more and what we value less, but we should be able to come together around the idea of sustaining our communities. Don’t we all want our elected officials to make decisions that will enable our neighborhoods, towns, and state to survive and thrive? How would each of the candidates balance the needs for security, for economic opportunities, for environmental protection, for adequate roads and public transportation, for affordable housing, and for quality education?
If we don’t take the time to get to know who all the candidates are and where they stand, we can only blame ourselves when things go awry. If we don’t stand up to vote on election day, we have no grounds to complain. No matter how skeptical or disillusioned we may become, we can’t afford to simply throw up our hands and abandon our faith in democracy.
Jane Lord, President, League of Women Voters of Sussex County
We are writing to urge CAMP Rehoboth members to elect Democrat Leslie Ledogar as the next Sussex County Council District 3 Representative.
This summer, we were honored to host a “meet and greet” for Leslie at our home in Lewes. We were so impressed with her professionalism and her passion for our coastal area. Leslie demonstrated a deep knowledge and understanding of the key issues affecting all of us.
Leslie’s resume is impressive. A public servant for the past 25 years with a master’s degree in forestry, she spent 15 of those years as an environmental attorney. She is also a trained mediator who has worked with all sides to resolve complex issues. She has the unique ability to balance legitimate environmental concerns with economic realities.
As Sussex County Council develops a new comprehensive plan for 2018, Leslie will bring to the table a balanced, thoughtful approach to help shape the critical future of our region. She will fight for smart, managed growth, a strong and vibrant economy, a healthy environment and an improved quality of life.
Leslie and her partner have been homeowners in Sussex County for nine years. We can’t think of a better candidate. Please join us and vote for Leslie Ledogar on November 8.
Irene and Edward Fick, Lewes