Vote Tuesday - it's your future

While the national political scene often seems to be dominant in conversation and debate, we still believe that the most important politics are local politics.

And if a Flathead County citizen doesn't already think there are good reasons to vote in the June 6 primary election, there are plenty to choose from.

For starters, this election will essentially determine the next sheriff to serve Flathead County, most likely for many years to come. With no Democrats in the race, one of three Republicans will take office at the end of the year unless there is a long-shot write-in campaign.

The outcome could present profound changes for law enforcement, after a whopping 16 years of steady, competent leadership under outgoing Sheriff Jim Dupont. The next sheriff will be guiding law enforcement issues - arguably the most fundamental issues for government services - in a rapidly growing county.

The county commissioner race carries equal weight. With three Democrats and nine Republicans pursuing a single seat on the board of commissioners, voters have the welcome opportunity for choice, and a responsiblity to choose wisely. Once elected, after all, the next commissioner will have great influence over an annual budget approaching $60 million. Competence is essential for leading this enterprise.

Montana's U.S. Senate race will also have a major local impact, over time. Although it's all about sending someone to Washingon, D.C., the Senate is where sparsely populated Montana has equal footing with California or New York. One of the people we pick on Tuesday will wield immense power for six years.

State legislative races are particularly important as well because Montana has the benefit of a true citizens' legislature that has close ties to voters, rather than being a remote, full-time state assembly.

Flathead citizens should make every effort to vote on Tuesday, even with some inconvenient changes in polling places (see Page A6). Twenty-two former polling places have been consolidated into eight, and 24 of the 30 total current polling places are at new locations.

Despite those changes, however, it should not be difficult to improve on the pathetic 8 percent turnout from the May school elections. This election is too important to ignore.