Out of My Mind | Be an informed citizen, vote!

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

The School Board election is less than two weeks away.

The general election is seven weeks away.

The deadline to register to vote in the general election in November is Oct. 4. There are many ways and places to register. Call the Benton County courthouse for more information.

Unfortunately, there are many people in the area who are not registered to vote.

Their reasons are many.

“I won’t make a difference.”

“I really don’t care.”

“I don’t know who to vote for.”

Our country has mandated that 18 year olds can vote.

They seem to be quick to cry that they’re adults in every other situation - when they want to go to an event of which their parents don’t approve, when they want to go to an R movie or buy cigarettes.

With privilege comes responsibility.

Voting is a privilege and a responsibility. Ask the citizens of countries where there is no vote for anyone, much less for women.

Register to vote. Then, vote!

There are several issues on the ballot that will directly affect the citizens of PeaRidge and the surrounding areas. Denying that won’t make it true.

There are four men running for mayor in Pea Ridge.

In Avoca, one council seat is contested.

In Gateway, two people are running for mayor, and two council seats are contested.

In Garfield, one council seat is contested.

School Board members hire the superintendent of schools who oversees a large budget and the hiring of the personnel for the schools which educate tomorrow’s citizens.

Council members help make laws that govern our communities and determine where the funds will be spent to maintain and improve those communities - streets, water, police and fire departments.

“I don’t care” is a selfcentered, apathetic attitude. Too often people don’t care about something until it directly affects them.

There have not oftenbeen people at City Council meetings to just watch and listen to the governing of the city.

There has been an ordinance governing the discharge of firearms since at least 1993 and an ordinance governing dogs running at large since 2002, although it was preceded by other ordinances. Usually people who attend council meetings have a personal interest in one of the items on the agenda.

Recently a man appeared before the Council to request the council members consider the current ordinances and provide exceptions to the current rules. He believed he had a personal interest in that.

It was commendable for the man for standing up to speak respectfully.

Why don’t more citizens take an interest on the front end of issues?

Attend board, council and committee meetings. There are several commissions in town which need more volunteers.

Most of all, register to vote, read about the candidates, and cast a vote.

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Editor’s note: Annette Beard is the managing editor of The Times of Northeast Benton County. A native of Louisiana, she moved to this area in 1980. She has nine children and one grandchild.

She can be reached at [email protected].

REGISTER TO VOTE For those persons who are not currently registered

to vote and wish to vote in the Pea Ridge municipal

election, applications must be received in the County Clerk’s Office or post-marked on or before Oct. 4 in order to be eligible to vote on Nov. 2.

If a voter is already registered to vote in Benton

County and has moved or changed his/her name, the

voter should complete an application indicating the

change and forward it to the County Clerk’s Office as soon as possible to avoid delays when voting.

For voter registration applications or other election/ voting information, please contact the Benton County Clerk’s office at 271-5704.

Applications to register to vote or for a change of

address may also be obtained from Benton County’s Website at: www.co.benton.ar.us/CountyClerk/ VoterRegistration.aspx.

Opinion, Pages 4 on 09/08/2010