Published: May 03, 2008 08:56 pm            

TRIBUNE-STAR EDITORAL: Remember the races that really matter

There’s still time to ponder local contests

TERRE HAUTE — No one would argue that the last several weeks in Indiana have lacked excitement. But with all the high-profile politicians and celebrities crisscrossing the state, it would be easy to forget that Tuesday’s election is about much more than a Democratic presidential primary.

Late next week, when national attention has shifted elsewhere and Hoosiers settle back into their customary roles as residents of “flyover country,” each of Indiana’s 92 counties will have been affected by primary results no one in Washington will bother to tally.

A large pool of hundreds of candidates for local offices, from judgeships to county commissioners to county council members, will have been markedly reduced. In the Indiana governor’s race, GOP incumbent Mitch Daniels will have a specific opponent around whom Democrats can rally and against whom Republicans can take aim.

They may lack glamour, but these are the contests that most directly bear on our individual lives, a fact all voters would be wise to keep in mind if they have not yet cast a ballot. Local officeholders may have little to say about what the federal government gives or takes away, but they have plenty of clout when it comes to implementation of new budgets and laws.

It matters in every community who serves as tax assessor, recorder, commissioner, council member, judge, sheriff, mayor or state legislator. Consequently, at least as much time and effort should go into a voter’s choice for these offices as for presidential nominee. This is not a small task, considering the crowded fields in some races. In Vigo County, for example, no fewer than 26 people are on the ballot for county council and commissioner.

Can most of us honestly say we’ve done our homework this time? If not, a couple of days remain in which each of us can honor the whole of our voter’s privilege and make certain we are informed about all the men and women vying for our support.

While the Tribune-Star isn’t making endorsements in Tuesday’s primary, the news staff has compiled short profiles of candidates for contested offices in Vigo County. All of those will have appeared in the newspaper by today, and they can be accessed on our Web site at tribstar.com. Downloadable versions of the Republican and Democratic ballots also are available on the site.

It’s been great fun to be in a state that actually matters in such a historic presidential primary, but it would be a shame to let the unaccustomed national spotlight blur our close-up vision. When our national visitors are long gone, we will be living with all the choices we make on May 6, not just one.

        

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