To the editor:
The election is over, absentee ballots have been counted and the final “unofficial” tally is in. Did anything change in the town of Manlius?
Contrary to what the re-elected supervisor was quoted as saying in last week’s Eagle Bulletin, most definitely! Manlius voters, after not having choices in local elections since 2008, finally were able to make some decisions. Energized by disappointment in the November 2016 elections, Democratic candidates young and old stepped forward, representing in themselves the diversity of the town.
The closeness of several races shows that the Democrats were able to engage and motivate large numbers of voters to come to the polls. Basing their platform on the premise that all politics is local, they started a movement to promote new ideas and new ways of doing things. Technology? Let’s use it to make our town more efficient. Transparency? Let’s promote more opportunities for residents to see their government in action, perhaps with live streaming of meetings and more opportunities to meet with their representatives and express views and concerns. Vision? What do we want Manlius to look like in five years? Do we have a game plan?
Let’s be clear about how the candidates spread their message — by door- to-door canvassing that began in late June when they were chosen and continuing up to and including election day. They held neighborhood Meet and Greets, sponsored fundraising activities like a 5K Run for Better Manlius Government, used social media including Facebook and Twitter. What started as an ordinary campaign has become a grassroots movement. Look at the numbers. The elected officials do not have a mandate. The numbers show that a large number of residents are not satisfied with the status quo and would welcome change.
The Eagle Bulletin remained totally neutral in the campaign. It did not endorse candidates. It attempted to sponsor a face to face debate for all candidates (the Democrats accepted the challenge). It published letters of support that were submitted in a timely fashion. And it encouraged its readers to exercise their right to vote. Political ads were paid for and sponsored by Better Manlius Government and the candidates themselves.
I for one know of the dedication and hard work of the Democratic slate of candidates. I can attest to it because I was right there beside them.
Roseann D. Lorefice
Manlius Democratic Committee
Campaign Manager 2017
