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If you plan to vote --- VOTE INFORMED!
By Gail Paparian
Special to The Record Gazette
We used to have a neighbor I nicknamed “the general.”
The moniker was not earned because I respected him that much, he just liked to
boss people around. We would talk at the mailbox or while he was pruning his
impeccable garden.
He was quick to opine about politics or the state of the world. I took his
self-proclaimed wisdom with major grains of salt. One day, being somewhat new to
the neighborhood, I asked him where the local polling place was located.
He looked at me quizzically. He asked why I wanted to know. I said something I
thought was fairly logical like, “I want to know where to go to vote.” Much to
my chagrin and delight, he told me he was not registered to vote!
Here's where the fun came in. I was chagrined, because I was brought up to
recognize the importance of voting and he had just blown it! The delight part
was when I told him that I no longer had to listen to his opinion, because if he
didn't vote; he had waived his right to give me his thoughts since he didn't
exercise his right, and I believe his duty to vote. That was a long time ago but
my resolve has not wavered.
I was brought up in New York and the day I reached my legal majority, I
registered to vote and have voted in every election, large or small ever since.
My long association and respect for League of Women Voters allowed me to be
fiercely political; just non-partisan. For many years, I have banged the drum
for people to vote Š preferably informed!
While we are over a year away from the “big election in 2008” - we've got a
smaller but equally important election approaching on November 6, 2007. Banning
voters will be asked to make their voices heard in two local elections. There is
one seat on the Mt. San Jacinto College District. Incumbent Gene Kadow will be
facing challengers Greg Barker and David A. Sanchez.
This is the first time that
residents of Sun Lakes will vote in the Banning Unified School District. There
are three seats (of the total 5) up in this election. Incumbents Amy R. Herr and
Karl D. Walton will face Deborah Dukes, Kathleen Forney, C. Allen “Chuck”
Braswell, Laurence H. Silverman, Beatrice “Judy” Peterson, Mark D. Parker, Robyn
J. Neccochea and Charles S. Varga.
Longtime BUSD Superintendent of Schools Kathleen McNamara has resigned her
position, so her staying or leaving is not an issue for this election.
Candidates should have a platform as to how they will interact with their board
colleagues to make Banning schools the best that they can be and become the envy
of the area.
Too many people might pass up this local election and I think that would be a
HUGE mistake. To paraphrase former Speaker of the House Tip O'Neal, “all
government is local” and the local school district is a prime example.
I do not have children or grandchildren in the Banning Unified School District
but I do pay taxes and have to help pay off the bond issues, so I want to make
certain that those who serve as school board trustees are the best qualified and
equipped to make wise and prudent decisions.
As I plan to reside in Banning for the foreseeable future, I am deeply
interested in the integrity of the community and how and where it grows and
where the tax dollars come from to support our substantial current and future
infrastructure needs. When residents or businesses are thinking of relocating to
Banning, the quality of its school district counts!
I urge you to vote on November 6th. Or, like me, apply for your absentee ballot
in a timely manner. Whatever you do, please vote informed.
(Gail Paparian is a Banning resident.)
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