In the past five years, we have never received as many letters to the editor about an upcoming local election as we have this year. There are multiple potential reasons for this, but we think it is as simple as the “Trump effect.” Last year’s presidential election was arguably one of the most polarizing in American history — and the angst, fear, incredulity and downright anger over the result persists, for some, even today. The effect of Donald’s Trump victory, and those on the political left’s response to that victory, has led to a massive organizational and mobilizational effort by Democrats. That impressive effort has led Republicans in many places to react with similar mobilization, in an effort to counter their opponents’ moves. The effect is that more people are taking an active interest and participation in politics than we have seen in years.
While national political issues have a nominal affect on local elections, the push to participate in the political process has filtered down. We have seen this in Cazenovia — where uncontested races are the norm for village and town offices — with a contested town board race, and in Madison County with contested races for clerk and sheriff.
Love or hate Trump, we should be thankful that his election last year set a fire across the country, shook people to their core and woke many sleeping people up to the importance of political awareness and participation. We’ve needed this in America for years — so many people take our republican form of government for granted that it has been argued it no longer functions as it should, that the majority is no longer represented nationally, that our leaders are more of an elite aristocracy than servants of the people. Go back to the Constitution, to the arguments of the founders, and you’ll see that politics was never meant to be a career, it was a privilege (and a burden) that was accepted, undertaken, then relinquished.
What does this mean for us locally? It means the same as it does nationally: Election Day is next week; make your voices heard; get out and vote.
