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Show PRESIDENI''S LErrTER The essence of the League of women Voters manifests itself in the months preceding elections on even nurrbered years-with voter registration, and voter education activities. The hours the volunteers of this organization contribute are impressive. MARIAN SULLIVAN and JO srorrERN have been magnificent in directing our Voter Service activities. As we readied the questions for the Salt Lake Tn.bune "Voters Guide, " we were amazed at the limits of our knowledge. Our activities have raised concerns about the lack of publicity about local offices and the candidates for those offices and the general apathy about local offices. f~ces for the legislature, county government and local school boards generally receive little media attention. Publicity centers on the candidates for national office, and every four years, on the governors race. Only when there is notoriety, as in this years' county attorney race, does attention focus on the candidates for the so-called lesser offices. The lack of publicity hurts in two ways: voter's have little information on the candidate's views and incunbents are favored because potentially good candidates may be discouraged about the opportunities to get their positions publicized. The traditional ways of advertising one's candidacy all cost money and probably give little meaningful information about the candidate. Of course, our organization and the Sal.t Lake Tribune do produce "The Voters Guide" which includes the top county races and the state Board of Education but what about local school board races and the legislature which will be deleted? This surraner, the League board listened to a plea from a county candidate for auditor to sponsor debates. The county auditor is the chief fiscal officer of the county-he is the individual responsible for overseeing the expenditure of the dollars collected from our frequently opposed property taxes. Many complain about the imposition of the property tax but few, it would seem, care about the expenditures of that collected money after it is in the county coffers. When faced with coming up with questions for this office, our conmittee admitted relative ignorance about the office. If League members are not knowledgeable about the importance of the office, can we expect the public to know and care? The League, with Corrnnon cause, YWCA and the Salt Lake Ci~y Association of Corrmunity Councils, are attempting to remedy the county situation by cosponsoring a candidates night for county officers on October 20 at the City-County building at 7 pm--please put it on your calendars and attend. Prospective county employees need to be reminded that citizens care and as voters, we need to be informed about candidates. Please take the flyer in this Voter and post it somewnere. If you can help in registration and voter information activities, please contact the office. We need your help. Local school boards, altnough restricted somewhat by the money the Legislature appropriates them, have significant decisions about how public education is delivered. Eacn dis~rict must come up with a response to cut money because of budget shortfalls. The Granite School Board is proposing to freeze its career ladder funds--how will the rest decide to cut back? In the Salt Lake City school district, two out of the three Board of Education seats are unopposed. Does this show extreme satisfaction on the part of the electorate with the running of the Salt Lake Schools or is it apathy? would the electorate and media pay more attention if local boards of education were elected in off years when local government elections are scheduled? Salt Lake Voter -2- October 1986 |
