August 20, 2025 – My recent ‘Letter to the Editor” is published in three newspapers.
Are we planting the right political seeds? Too many voters can’t name their city councilmembers, school board trustees, or district attorney yet these officials shape our streets, schools, budgets, and safety every day.
When ballots arrive, it’s tempting to follow the loudest ad or a familiar name, but we owe our communities better. Start local: read meeting minutes, check voting records and attendance, ask candidates specific questions, and follow the money. Are donations coming from neighbors and small donors, or from big interests with agendas?
Local offices are the farm team for higher office; today’s councilmember can be tomorrow’s state legislator or U.S. senator. If we want better leadership later, we must choose wisely now. Elections aren’t just about Washington, they’re about the block we live on. Know your local officials, hold them accountable, and vote with intention. Plant smart today, and we’ll harvest a government worthy of our future and the best outcomes for all.
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