And also, support your town government: Vote on Nov. 5

When local elections roll around every odd-numbered year, this newspaper makes it a point to inform our readers of those who are stepping up to run their towns, and even to endorse candidates at times, when there are contested races. This year, we have already run the ballots once, and are again in this issue. They certainly prove that enough people are willing to serve their towns to keep them all going, but for many of the offices, just enough. There is only one contested race at the selectman level in the Region One towns, and that is in Kent, where The Lake­ville Journal and the Kent Memorial Library cosponsored a Civil Dialogue event where town residents could hear the candidates on Oct. 19 (see story, this issue.) 

There are some contested races for other offices, such as the Board of Finance and the Planning and Zoning Commission in Salisbury, for instance, but given the fact that there are enough challenges to finding citizens to serve their towns in this way, we will take this opportunity to remind area residents that political parties are not as important in local elections as they are at the national and state levels. This is the time to look at the skills your neighbors possess, and cast your vote accordingly — don’t attack or belittle the opposition. 

After all, in a contentious time in our nation’s history, those who have the fortitude to put themselves out there to be judged by their fellow citizens, especially in small towns where it’s all so personal, should only be thanked for their trouble. So, thank you to all those who are willing to run to serve their towns, both those who are already serving and those who are running for the first time. All of them care about their communities and are committed to creating benefits for residents of their towns. Time will tell the success they have over the next two years.

And if you are unhappy with the work they put in on your behalf, consider running for office yourself in 2021. 

Be sure to vote on Nov. 5.