Editor’s note: This commentary is by John Freitag, a retired dairy farm worker and school facility manager in Strafford who has been involved in local civic and governmental organizations.
Perhaps the saddest thing about our democracy is that we do not take full advantage of the opportunities it presents. Nowhere is this more evident than in having uncontested elections. Elections are, after all, the place where policy should be debated and the general direction that we will be headed for the next two years in our state is determined. No elected official for either party should get a free pass. This is precisely the time and place to hold incumbents accountable for past actions as well as get specifics on how candidates intend to approach the issues that have large impacts on our lives. Sure, there are what amounts to safe districts where running for election is likely to be an extremely long shot; but not providing people a choice is inexcusable.
In this year of Covid-19, it is particularly easy to become a candidate. All one has to do to run as an Independent for State Representative or Senator from your district is to file a form with the Secretary of State no sooner than July 23 and no later than August 6. Due to the need for social distancing, the petitions and signatures usually required are not needed. Forms and information on who is running in your district can be found at the Secretary of State’s website: https://sos.vermont.gov/elections.
You do not have to spend a good deal, or in fact, hardly any money to run. Road signs (which I personally find distasteful) are not a requirement. Campaigning can be done via letters to the editor, using your local Front Porch Forum or listserve, via your own website and other ways you may find fits your situation. The main thing is to use our democratic process as it was intended. We must not allow our elections to simply be a rubber stamp as they are in many countries.
Finally, it is always good to be willing to take your own advice. I had hoped that there would be challengers to the incumbents in my two-person House district. While both the current occupants in my district are longtime friends, and we agree on some issues, overall, I am far less into what I find to be impractical state mandates and feel that we have pretty much reached the limits in term or taxation and must look now to reallocation of existing resources.
Believing as strongly as I do that elections are the time and place for vigorous debate and choice, should no one else step up, I will. I sincerely hope that others, in districts where people are running unopposed, or if you do not feel your point of view is being considered, will take up this civic responsibility as well.
