Another local election year is wrapping up this coming Tuesday, Nov. 5. As you and other community members get ready to cast a vote—for many, this may be the first time participating since you became eligible to vote you have a voice in choosing those who will help lead the City for the next four years.
Many people don’t give much importance to local elections. They think that because, after all, the City doesn’t deal with the big issues the Federal Government deals with on a day-to-day basis.
Nothing is further from the truth.
No other election affects your daily life like a local election. A good friend of mine and a member of the Goshen City Council, Julia King, said it very well, “VOTE LOCAL, because it’s right here—in Goshen—where you get to build a community that makes you proud. We can be rational, fair and predictable in our local processes. We can negotiate our differences in good faith. We can strive for integrity and demand that our system works for everyone. We can be forward-thinking and creative.
Whatever cause moves you, it’s here: economic justice, environmental protection, public safety,
infrastructure development, land use, housing, diversity and inclusion—your LOCAL VOTE touches it all.”
What happens in Goshen affects all residents, of every different demographic. This year, for example,we were inspired by our younger residents, who attended Goshen City Council meetings to express their support for the passing of a Goshen High School Youth Caucus-lead, resolution laying the groundwork for the City to create a Climate Action Plan. The Council passed the resolution unanimously after seeing overwhelming support from college, high school, middle school and even younger aged residents for it. This is just one example of the ways various members of the community have become involved in guiding the City forward. We have had numerous topics and projects that the residents and business leaders have voiced their opinions on. All ages and all demographics have a voice in Goshen and we work to amplify those voices, but we need you to take the first step in helping us do so. We need you to vote.
When it comes to our community, we all pitch in.
Voting in local elections is an important and essential element needed to build a strong community. Goshen is a community that is thriving and progressive. This is no doubt something I value but it is also something that requires hard work in order to continue.
We have grown to what we are today through the work of many people and the participation of thousands more. We have done this with only 30% (in a good year) of us voting. Just imagine what we could do if 50%, 75%, or 100% of those eligible to vote used that right, that privilege.
We see a little more than 10,000 people, Republicans, Democrats and everything in between, who vote in national and state elections and do not vote for local government, which is closest to their day-to-day lives. We need to change this. We need to come together to help direct our community.
During my first term as Mayor, I have worked hard to build on the great progress achieved through the our past leaders. My goal is to continue to build on that progress, making Goshen an even more vibrant community.
No matter whom you plan to vote for, find the thing that motivates you, educate yourself on the candidates, and come participate in growing your community by voting. The more we participate, the stronger we grow.
I look forward to seeing you around our community. Please don’t ever hesitate to reach out and say hi to me or any other elected official. We enjoy connecting with, learning from and listening to those in the community we serve.
With great respect,
Mayor Jeremy Stutsman