Another first for the Madville Times -- I lost my first public election! 498 other people were kind enough to mark the oval next to my name yesterday, and you folks have my thanks. But alas, a couple hundred more favored Jay and Tammy Jo. It appears my suspicion about the bias of the Madville Times school board poll was correct, especially when we compare its skewed results with the surprisingly accurate prediction of the city commission results.
So how did this first major South Dakota blogger campaign go down in flames? Readers, your punditry is welcome! My own post-mortem? Well, before coming up with rocket-science excuses, let's start with the obvious factor: more people think I'm not the best guy for the job. Even if I'd have knocked on every door in town, it's possible folks might still have come to the same conclusion. (Nonetheless, expect more door-knocking next time!)
Voter turnout may have been a factor in the final outcome. Down at the bottom of this morning's special report from MDL's Chuck Clement, we learn that my fellow rural voters turned out in lower numbers -- just 12.93% -- than the city voters -- 23%. Had the rural vote turned out in the same numbers as city voters, we'd have seen about 160 more farmers and other rural dwellers at the polls. It's unlikely every one of them would have checked my name, but it is conceivable that rural votes would have leaned less toward the in-town candidates.
Let's also note what appears not to have been a factor: issues. That's as much our fault as the media's: as noted previously, there just wasn't much daylight between us on gym expansion, school policy, or anything else. If there was any disagreement, it was on trimesters and preschool, and voters still picked Zingmark, whose answers were vaguely opposite those of her fellow board-member-elect Niedert.
Whatever our reasons (and I welcome your posting of those reasons here!), we have spoken. And we've gotten to do some democracy! Yahoo!
But let's not forget: democracy doesn't end on election day. Democracy happens every day, as we keep talking about the issues, keep jawboning our elected officials, and keep reminding them -- and ourselves! -- that the government is us. In democracy, a citizen's work is never done.
Thanks for taking the time and effort to run for the board, Cory.
ReplyDeleteI still think you showed the most initiative to get out and meet the voters and discuss the issues. And thus I feel that you should be offered the two-year seat, and I strongly feel you should take it if offered. If the board doesn't offer you the seat but simply appoints someone else who didn't even bother to run or who wasn't next in line with number of votes, it won't be good PR wise.
I think the pro new gym people got their voters to turn out, as the two who won seem to be those most in favor of a bond issue for a new gym. That could be a reason for the discrepancy between rural and city voting also, as generally farmers/ranchers aren't in favor of more property taxes. Will just wait to see if I'm proven right over time.
Just my humble opinion.
Nonnie
I still hope that the school board appoints you to the 3rd open seat.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean "still a citizen?" Does winning a seat on the school board confer some kind of eliteness? I think you would have still been simply a citizen even had you won a seat.
ReplyDeleteWithout any major issue differences, the voting comes down to a popularity contest. The 2 that won are visible and well-known in the community, without any negative "history" in the back of the voters mind. Whether or not that history is accurate or fair, it is there.
ReplyDeleteDRK
Sorry, Anon 2:03 -- permit me to clarify. I was looking at the headline from a different direction. I wasn't saying that winning an election changes one's status; I was saying that losing an election doesn't change one's status. You're right: we're all citizens whether we hold an office or not. That's what I meant: those of us who didn't win an office yesterday, as well as everyone who voted, and even everyone who stayed home, can and should stay as involved as ever in civic affairs. "Still a citizen" here means still involved.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, Cory, are you on the Trimester Study Committee? I believe that would be a solid way to give back to the district that you so wish to serve.
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking the time to run! I wish you would have won yesterday and maybe it's not over... a third seat, huh? I hope it's yours!
ReplyDeleteMadison is missing out on a pretty good opportunity... Best wishes in the future and don't give up!