Make your voice heard Tuesday

Inter Lake editorial

It's an important election, all the pundits say.

One might respond that every election is important, but it's not too far a stretch to surmise that this one is especially important.

And it's important at many levels.

Considering that our country is mired in a serious economic and financial crisis and fighting two wars half a world away (along with a host of other social, political and governmental challenges), the choice we make for America's top job is critical, to put it mildly.

Much of America's attention has been focused on the epic struggle between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain (as well as the Palin-Biden sideshows).

But that attention is for good reason. Rarely has this nation needed strong leadership as much as it does in our next president.

Normally presidential politics play out at a level far beyond the hinterlands of Montana, but not this year.

The Democrats, at least, have put Montana in play for the presidential race, and if you believe the polls (although we usually don't), the tally in Montana might actually be close between Obama and McCain voters. Whether Montana's whopping three electoral votes will be pivotal remains to be seen, but it's an intriguing possibility that Montana might matter in a national election.

Closer to home, there are some pocketbook issues vying for voters' attention.

Flathead County voters are being asked to pony up $10 million to preserve open space and up to $6.9 million to build a new 911 emergency dispatch center. Plus Kalispell voters are being asked to fund a $540,000-a-year parks maintenance district.

Local voters also may have a key role in deciding the makeup of the next state Legislature. With nine House districts and two Senate districts contested in Flathead County, voters here could help determine whether or not the Legislature retains its partisan split (a split that led to discord and gridlock in the 2007 session).

On the state level, four statewide offices - attorney general, auditor, superintendent of public instruction and Supreme Court chief justice - will have new occupants since there are no incumbents running for re-election.

One place where change will likely not be in evidence is in the Montana congressional delegation, with incumbents for both Senate and House facing only minimal opposition.

This election has the distinction, too, of being an election where as many as half the voters already will have voted by the time the actual Election Day rolls around.

So yes, this election matters more than most. If you haven't already done so, make your voice heard on Tuesday.