Letter to Editor | Orcas Electorate Is Informed

— from Bea vonTobel —

Wow! It has been utterly amazing to me that my observation about the generous donation from an island resident toward construction of a track, originally published online in September, has generated so much discussion. Kudos to the media of every stripe for continuing to carry on thought and action on the upcoming bond issue vote.

To those who attended the walk-throughs at the district, wrote either in support of or in opposition to the bond, did research on their on to enlighten their voting decision, talked with their friends and neighbors, made phone calls, sent e-mails, added comments to the internet groups—-BRAVO!

I lived for a long time in a small town in Maine, which elected officials for the ensuing year, approved the budget, and voted on other questions at its annual town meeting each February. We toted our warrants booklet (distributed in person by the 3 elected selectmen to each resident), elected a moderator, a secretary, and conducted the business noted in the warrant. We voted with a show of hands, or when needed, by dropping a small slip of paper into an open box either in support of or in opposition to the question on the floor. The votes were emptied onto the moderator’s table, counted and verified immediately, and the results shared. It was the truest demonstration of how democracy was designed to function. I miss both its simplicity and complexity.

It was my original intent to entreat the people on Orcas to examine the bond and its contents closely; the voters have far exceeded my expectation. However you vote, you will have done so from the best possible viewpoint—an informed electorate is a great measure of pride, and I congratulate you!