Local races are often overlooked during Presidential re-election years; that’s the way it goes. But I feel very strongly about two statewide elections this year and we Backyard Bloggers have yet to focus on two important races: the gubernatorial race and the race for attorney general.
They say all politics are local politics and, while that’s changed dramatically in the past few years, it’s a truism I find more relevant everyday. Why? Because at the end of the day we don’t care so much about national policies that do not directly affect us.
We only care about finding or keeping our current job, making sure our children are safe, fed and educated, and trying to make our way through this horrendous traffic.
Say what you will about presidential politics, but there are very few of us directly affected on a daily basis in our homes, jobs or personal lives because of what goes on in the Oval Office.
My point is this: people in Olympia often have much more influence on how our daily lives are affected than people in Washington, D.C. I feel very strongly that the new governor and attorney general will shape public policy in this state will either help us recover economically and socially or drive us further down into this economic quagmire we’ve been stuck in for several years.
The Puget Sound region, in particular, has been in a funky malaise for quite some time when it comes to solving the poor state of our transportation and economic infrastructure.
We seem to be waiting around for someone to tell us to do something. We lack decisive leaders who put their necks on the line and gamble for the good of our region. I believe, for the first time in many years, that both Republican candidates for the governorship and attorney general position in this state consist of these leadership qualities.
Don’t dismiss these statewide races as an afterthought. They are important too and will affect your life, business and school easily as much or more so than the candidates running for President.
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