If you believe the old adage that “all politics is local,” this November is pretty important here in Newburyport. On November 4th, all city council and school committee seats will be up for grabs, as well as the mayor’s office. Most candidates are running unopposed, but city council races for Ward 2, Ward 6, at-large, and mayor, are contested.
There are two candidates running in Ward 2, three candidates in Ward 6 (for which there will be a preliminary election on September 16th), seven candidates running at-large (for five available seats) and two candidates for mayor.
Local elections may feel insignificant in the broader national conversation, but they affect us profoundly and tangibly. Whether it’s wastewater treatment, resources for children, waterfront development, brick sidewalks, patio dining, municipal transparency, pothole repair, or something else, chances are there’s a local issue that affects your day-to-day life. Elections are how we begin to deal with these issues.
The Townie will not endorse any candidate for office, but rather work to promote civic engagement more broadly. Our goal is to ensure voters understand issues and candidates well enough to make an informed decision. To that end, we welcome opinion pieces on all election-related issues.
For voters: Campaign platforms often take shape around the issues voters care about. So, what do you care about this election season? What do you want your elected officials to keep in mind as they seek office? In local politics, a small collection of voices, or even a single voice, can make a difference.
For candidates: Though we can’t publish campaign press releases, candidates are encouraged to write about specific issues that affect the community, and which may be of interest to voters. They are also encouraged to respond to any op-eds directly criticizing their candidacy.
Stay tuned over the next few months for information on each candidate (even those running unopposed), resources for election-related education, and even in-person events connecting voters with candidates. Let’s use this election season as an opportunity to engage — with civic life, and with each other.