It was encouraging to see so many candidates step up to the podium and run for office in both Watonga and Geary.
What was disheartening was the sad excuse for a voter turnout. According to the Oklahoma Elections Board, in Watonga only 376 votes were cast at best, while in Geary only 159 citizens could be troubled to go to the polls.
That’s pathetic, especially when the keyboard warriors will get fired up here in a few weeks and start complaining about a whole new set of issues. What a bunch of lily-livered thus and so’s.
I believe fully in the potential of this community. Sometimes it gets difficult being a cheerleader for folks who seem so reluctant to take their future into their own hands.
And this is a textbook example of passing the buck. ‘Well, it doesn’t matter. One vote wouldn’t do anything anyway.’
Except one race was decided by three votes. Three. So one vote really would do something.
Next is the excuse ‘They are going to do whatever they want to do anyway,’ or ‘The city manager decides everything.’
Horsefeathers. I had extended conversations with all the candidates. What was refreshing was hearing many of them tell me they knew they didn’t know everything, that they would have to talk to citizens, business owners and community leaders to determine what was desired in the town and then research how to make it happen inside the framework of the law.
So now what? I guess everyone who didn’t bother to vote will say ‘I didn’t want him/her. I didn’t vote for any of them. Only 300 folks did.’ Who wants to be part of that club?
What if instead, we as citizens became a unified group pushing -instead of for the ouster of this or that employee – for the good of the town? What if we formed groups to pick up trash – like blowing plastic bags and shovel the edges of our streets? What if we remove spray painted graffiti?
Yeah, maybe the city should do that. Maybe it’s their obligation. Obviously, the city needs some help. It can’t get to everything. I’m not saying take over streets and alleys. But just do a little good. Help your neighbors and neighborhood.
Be the change you want to see.
I know, I know. It’s not your job. It’s hot, thankless, dirty work. Nobody wants to do it.
But what if, just maybe, that gives the city a leg up and they can keep up after that? Maybe that jumpstart creates a sense of pride in our town and there is less cleanup for the city to do because the residents are taking care of their own mess.
At some point we have got to turn the corner on this and start getting some traction on creating more of what we want our town to be.
I doubt this column will have much impact on the negative Neds and Nancys out there. But maybe one or two will read and act. It has to start somewhere.