The unofficial tally of the local mayoral votes are in, and it looks like a write-in candidate with 56 votes beat another write-in candidate with 55 votes and the candidate actually on the ballot (43). This is the first time my vote in a governmental election has “counted”* in the sense that it was pivotal in determining the outcome of the election. I think it is a product of the race at hand, but this does not make me feel proud for exercising my civic duty; rather I feel uncomfortably responsible for the mayor.
*We’ve had a previous discussion on this forum as to how unlikely this is and, to me, at least, wanting to be a vote that matters misses the point of voting.
Comments
Really truly slug's post was not visible on my computer when I posted. I don't intend to one-up my husband in local election news.
Posted by: plantnerd | June 11, 2009 9:45 PM
Now see, I'm with Slug on this one. After living in New York, where my vote for president truly doesn't matter, and Hong Kong, which is to democracy what Velveeta is to cheese, I think it's pretty cool that your vote means something.
Besides, it sounds like if the guy turns out to be a total failure, you can always say it was your husband's vote and not yours that helped him prevail.
Posted by: Mr. Guapo | June 12, 2009 8:41 AM
I'd probably feel better about it if the new mayor-elect 1) didn't consistently wear too-tight clothing 2) did not campaign using pictures of herself in too-short clothing and 3) stayed in and passed my bio for non-majors course (which she dropped). But the candidate on the ballot used : ) at the end of every sentence in her campaign materials, so student who has been very active in campus and city politics, whether or not she could pass my class, was really the better choice.
Posted by: plantnerd | June 12, 2009 8:56 AM
So the new mayor is hot? That changes things considerably.
Posted by: Mr. Guapo | June 12, 2009 10:20 AM
I just said that she wears short tight clothing, I did not say hot.
Posted by: plantnerd | June 12, 2009 3:27 PM
This gets more complex by the minute. Democracy is hard.
Posted by: Mr. Guapo | June 13, 2009 10:27 AM
Made the Sunday Charleston paper, youngest mayor and only 9th female mayor ever in state (how can that be? There are lots of towns and lots of women in local politics.) http://wvgazette.com/News/200906130266
Posted by: plantnerd | June 15, 2009 11:24 AM
The face of women in local politics:
Posted by: Flick | June 15, 2009 2:21 PM
Wow. OK, she makes me a little nervous too, but if she's the only one who went door-to-door then she clearly wants it most.
Posted by: Mr. Guapo | June 16, 2009 2:00 PM