Welcome to this week’s edition of Mothers of Intention! While there are lots of people talking about the second Presidential debate, there are other things going on in politics and Cathy of Mayberry Mom has something to say about that!
I confess to being largely a party-line voter. Luckily for me, my political views tend to line up fairly nicely with those of one of the two major parties. So it’s not hard for me to decide which lever to pull or box to check when it comes to presidential, gubernatorial, senatorial, or congressional races.
But put me in front of a ballot for school board or alderperson or mayor and I am lost. Not only are there way too many choices (and also, what does an alderperson do anyway?), there are no political affiliations to guide me.
What’s a Mother of Intention to do? Especially one wholly dependent on the interwebs, like me? At least in my small town, the candidates almost never have Web sites listing their experience and their positions on important issues.
And yet the people in these offices have the power to almost instantly affect my life. Reassess my house, and suddenly I’m out an extra couple of thousand dollars a year in property taxes. Cut busing from the school district’s budget and I have to scramble to get my kid to kindergarten on time. Sure, I think it’s critically important that we elect the right President. But the micro can be just as crucial as the macro, especially when it comes to my wallet and my children’s education.
I glean what little I can from our local newspaper, but usually, it’s not enough. It may carry one brief article on each race, with a bare-bones listing of each candidate’s position on a few issues. If I’m lucky, one or two of the candidates may drop a flyer in my mailbox. School board candidates may speak at a meeting. (And, oh sure, most busy parents have time to drop in on those—scheduled, as they are, during dinner and bedtime.) Yard signs pop up, and if they’re plunged into the lawn of someone I know and whose political views I respect, I might be swayed. But it still doesn’t feel like enough.
Last spring, we had a school board election. I had no idea who to vote for, even after scouring the newspaper (it yielded a few tidbits, but not enough for me to make up my mind) and the Web (ha—only one candidate had a site). I wasn’t satisfied. My daughter goes to the only charter school in our district, and support for it from our board has been tenuous at best. I wanted to be sure my vote went to candidates who would defend our school.
So I turned to—who else?—other mothers. I asked at the school playground and at PTA meetings. I checked with my daughter’s class mom. Pay dirt! I quickly learned which board members up for reelection had been problematic in the past and which new ones had promised, if not outright approval, at least an open mind about charters.
Mothers of Intention are everywhere. You just need to ask around.
Cathy, aka Mayberry Mom, lives, works, writes, votes, and chats up other moms in a small Midwestern town.
October 8th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
In 2006, I did my homework at the local level for the first time. It was eye-opening, and I’m glad I took the time to do it. But you’re right – much information is hard to come by!
October 8th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
I’m actually always more interested in the local as opposed to the national. And you are right, good info is hard to come by. Read the fine print. In our town, the fine print of school levies always means a whopping 80% of the money goes to payroll increases. Read your local rag regularly (if they distribute one) and you’ll learn lots!
October 9th, 2008 at 1:12 am
I am so with you on the micro being of vital importance on a very personal level. It’s funny what you said about the lawn signs at the homes of people you know. I actually do consider them.
October 9th, 2008 at 2:34 am
I need to get connected locally too. We moved last year, and a lot of our reps are different here. Good thoughts!
October 10th, 2008 at 5:44 am
I’m glad to see that you know WHERE to go for information! pay dirt.
October 10th, 2008 at 9:14 am
I totally hear you. I always seem to have a strong sense of what to do on the big stuff, but the local is really just as “big” in the grand scheme of my family, and there I am often hazy. We moved recently and own our own home for the first time, the time when my kids start school draws closer – I’ll have to take your advice and really work to find answers. And yes, other moms are always a great place to start!