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November 1, 2009

ROBIN L. QUILLON | You have the power to impact region's future with your votes

Anonymous The Tribune-Democrat Sun Nov 01, 2009, 09:52 AM EST

The power is now in your hands.

How many times have you said during the course of a year: “We should vote the bums out because …”?

Or: “I will remember so and so when it comes time to cast my vote in the next election because …”

This newspaper has published many letters from across the region this year echoing those same sentiments.

Well, folks, on Tuesday you will have your opportunity to cast your vote because! This is when you get to tell your elected leaders to take a hike or take a seat.

Our Founding Fathers and other inspired thinkers understood and placed a high value on an individual’s duty to vote.

Thomas Jefferson said: “Should things go wrong at any time, the people will set them to rights by the peaceable exercise of their elective rights.”

Daniel Webster said: “Impress upon children the truth that the exercise of the elective franchise is a social duty of as solemn a nature as man can be called to perform; that a man may not innocently trifle with his vote; that every elector is a trustee as well for others as himself and that every measure he supports has an important bearing on the interests of others as well as on his own.”

I love this quote from Tim Duffy, a student at Queens College, who said: “If we can vote for the best performer on the TV show ‘American Idol’ we should certainly vote in elections that profoundly affect our future.” How true.

All of the races you will be voting on this Tuesday are important, but none are more important and none hold the potential for affecting our future than the election of four Johnstown city council members and the mayor.

This newspaper has spent a considerable amount of time reporting on, meeting with and unpacking the campaigns of these candidates. I want you to know that we have done our homework.

Our conclusion is this: No incumbents should be re-elected because of their absolute lack of success during their terms in office.

This decision is grounded in one simple thing, results. And the incumbents have not delivered.

Their opportunity to do so has long since passed. Four years is long enough to get the job done. In my opinion, they do not deserve an extension.

This current city council is an embarrassment, and I believe the only way to move this council and, ultimately, the city as a whole off the center of failure, inaction, complacency and mediocrity is to replace the incumbents with citizens who will bring new energy, thoughts, ideas and results to the table.

I accept the fact that you may not agree with my position.

I also accept the fact that there will be some who will vote strictly along party lines. That is your right.

And I will defend your right to do so.

But as you step into that voting booth, think back and ask yourself these questions:

-- Is Johnstown better off today than four years ago?

-- Is the city moving in the right direction?

Deep down, you know the answers to those questions.

The power is now in your hands.

Robin L. Quillon is the publisher of The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at rquillon@tribdem.com.

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