Exit Blogging
I just came from voting over at Burlington Electric Department, in Ward 5. The traffic was extremely light according to everyone there.
The Democratic candidate for City Council, Joan Shannon, was standing alone, with Snow Joan, in front of BED.
There was a Green Party table set up across the parking lot. Green candidate for City Council, Rene Kaczka-Valliere was on a lunch break, but Jay Vos was standing in for him.
Joan and I were talking on my way in about how weird that was. In the past, candidates of all political stripes stood in a line together, at least the two times I ran that was the case. We talked and kept each other company.
I think that is one of the things that makes local politics so civil. It is kind of hard to demonize your opponent after you chat away a frigid March day together.
Of course, it's not like they ignored each other completely. That's Jay talking to Joan, below.
Here is a picture of Inspector of Elections Doug Dunbebin hard at work checking in a voter.
That had to be the shortest ballot I have ever voted on. How sad. This is our one time of year that we get to focus on local issues and there was only one ballot question, besides the school budget.
At least I got to see "Snow Joan."
Be sure to stop by Exit Voices and post your own election experiences.
4 comments:
I think I voted there just around the same time today! Definitely the shortest ballot I remember ever having casted.
I was amazed that 2/3 of the candidates were actually standing outside, though honestly, I didn't notice the Greens until I was leaving.
That speaks to your question of whether all the candidates should be standing together. For one, it certainly would foster a certain finish-line camaraderie. Also, as a matter of practicality, usually aren't too many separate places the candidates would want to place themselves. You want to be as close to the entrance as possible, so people see you, you can talk with 'em, etc. In fact, the Greens' experiment (if that's what it was) with placing themselves across the short parking lot didn't do them any good as far as my attention was concerned. Oh well, ya don't know if ya don't try...
Hey Charity,
Here's the Snarky Boy's take on town meeting. Enjoy. I bet you could join me with the call for more power to the towns, no?
Love,
Snarky
Thanks, Charity. It was great to see you and the boys.
Hi Jay, I wish that I had been able to talk to you more, but it was so cold! My poor kids froze while I was answering Joan's questions about homeschooling.
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