From the White House to Your House Each Vote is Significant

On November 6, 2012 American voters choose who will serve as their President for the next four years. For months, it seems like years, our nation has been obsessed with exploring the positives and negatives of two interesting and hopefully qualified individuals. By now we all know pretty well who we are going to vote for to fill the highest office in the United States of America.

The Melville Chamber of Commerce is a non-partisan organization. Although we regularly commend an elected official on a job well done or even on occasion complain when we disagree with a decision made by someone who has been elected to office, we do not take sides. The decision is yours. We urge everyone to take their constitutionally guaranteed right to vote seriously. Take the time on Election Day to make the choice you believe in.

Remember also that the President of the United States is only one of an important array of offices you will be voting for. All to often voters enter the polling place with little or no knowledge of a complete ballot. Surely it is important to make the right choice when electing our nation’s leader. In fact, what will effect you more personally is your selection of state representatives, members of congress, town and county leaders.

Sometimes being overwhelmed by the big picture, we overlook the importance of choosing the best and most capable local leadership. Those who serve on your town council significantly effect your quality of life by deciding on the depth and quality of your public services, local transportation, zoning and of course your very real real estate taxes. Can you name one or more of the men and women who serve on your town council? 

Can you name your school superintendent or even the number of assistant school superintendents serving your home district? If you own a home on Long Island your individual school taxes are likely multiples of any other tax you pay. Yet most Long Islanders know very little or even nothing at all about the person who runs their local schools.

Long Island school superintendents and their assistants are payed very high salaries with many extra benefits Their compensation is markedly much more than that of most of the elected men and women running our towns, county, state and nation. Although we do not vote these hopefully qualified administrators into their position they are appointed by school boards. School board members are elected by the local community. Most of your neighbors pay little or no election to local school board elections. 

In the coming months, without taking sides, the Melville Chamber of Commerce will continue to offer our members and neighbors invaluable opportunities to meet those local leaders who effect their lives so personally. We will continue to open communications between appointed and elected officials. 

And we will continue as we always have to do all we can to help those who live, work, study and do business in our community become the most educated voters in this great nation.

Meanwhile be sure to cast your votes on Tuesday November 6th.