Everyone who participated in the Milo District III Republican Primary forum last Wednesday evening deserves a pat on the back.
When five individuals faced a room full of neighbors and others eager to learn more about their positions on Yates County issues, they had no idea what to expect. Would the questions be confrontational? Would the audience be unreceptive? Would there be verbal sparring between the candidates?
No, no, no.
The candidates did their best to outline their perspectives about county issues. It was heartening to hear them urge the audience to attend committee and legislature meetings. It was clear their sentiments were genuine and earnest.
Everyone involved made the evening informative, civil and helpful. Everyone wins when an informed public has choices and makes decisions.
But election time isn't the only time to pay attention to local politics. All year, local elected officials make decisions that touch our lives every day. It's hard to imagine anyone who is comfortable making those decisions in a vacuum. Stay in touch with the issues and your representatives — whoever is elected — over their terms. Hold them accountable to campaign promises.
Now it's up to the Republican and Conservative voters to turn out and vote based on a belief of how well the individuals seeking a place on the November ballot will represent their views on all the issues that are headed our way.
