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Students: get involved locally |
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Tuesday, 17 October 2006 |
by JW RANDOLPH
Intern News Reporter
“We as a party (Republicans) don’t want students to vote here…You come into town and you don’t have any idea about local issues…There’s more at stake for you where your parents live.” – Republican GOTV director in Watauga County
Two
years ago, I stood with young knees knocking in front of the Watauga
County Commissioners. I was asking our commissioners for their support
on a resolution to uphold the Clean Air Act.
I was asking them to protect the North Carolina air infused with toxins from giant industrial polluters in the Midwest.
Simple, easy, no controversy. It’s air we’re talking about after all.
I took a deep breath and stepped up to the microphone.
The republicans on the commission, David Blust and Keith Honeycutt,
both whined about not having enough information, even though we’d sent
each commissioner a packet two weeks in advance so they’d have plenty
of time to look it over.
Follow-up calls were made asking if they needed more information. They said no. Even Blust.
Blust voted against clean air in our mountains because he didn’t do his
homework. But, we found the three votes we needed and won.
Last week, I sat with my back straight and my eyes fixed on Blust at a candidate forum at Appalachian State University.
He’s now got his aim at a higher office.
This time he was speaking to a room full of students who had come to listen and learn more about local issues and candidates.
Blust had the gall, after failing in his job as county commissioner, to
tell the entire room of adults we didn’t deserve to be able to vote at
home in the United States of America.
We live, work and pay taxes here. We are the driving force behind the
Town of Boone’s economy. Without Appalachian, Boone would be Sparta (no
offense Spartans).
Now we had another local Republican telling us that we should keep ourselves locked out of the democratic process?
I couldn’t believe my ears.
We were at a forum to listen and learn about the local candidates and
their ideas. Apparently, their solutions are to tell half the town we
shouldn’t be allowed to vote in local elections because we are enrolled
in school.
Mr. Blust, I’ve voted here for six years.
I’ve run for office in Boone.
I’ve taken resolutions regarding the public interest of Watauga County to the Boone Town Council and Watauga County Commission.
I’ve canvassed out in the county.
I’ve worked for local candidates, both democrat and republican, and you’re telling me that I can’t vote.
That, sir, is called totalitarianism.
It’s humiliating.
Students give thousands of volunteer hours to this community every month and are completely qualified to vote.
Mr. Blust, I can’t wait to vote.
I will breathe easier when my good friend Steve Goss sits in the seat
you tried to steal from Appalachian-friendly republican John Garwood.
Steve Goss is a wonderful man, worth my vote, but I will also be happy to vote against your un-American candidacy.
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