On Election Day, the Only Real Losers Were the Ones Who Didn't Vote

By Joseph A. Curtatone (The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.) In my election eve auto-call, I said that every election is important - and I meant it. Through good economic times and bad, in crisis or in calm, every voter has a major impact on the quality of the life, the health, the opportunity and the future of the entire community and everyone in it. While my phone call to Somerville voters was political - I was running unopposed but I still wanted to ask for your vote - it was also intended to get everyone to the polls. Voting is the most fundamental expression of citizenship in a democracy. I don't agree with the old saying, "If you don't vote, you can't complain" (everyone complains anyway, and most office-holders still listen), but it's undeniable that voters get the final word on the direction of public policy.. So what conclusions can we draw from this election? Well, turnout of just over 18 percent of registered voters is pretty low, and reflects the continuing long-term decline in voter participation in non-presidential elections in Somerville. There's really no excuse for this: our local government is about as open and accessible as it gets, yet fewer people are choosing to run and fewer people are choosing to vote. It shouldn't be that way. Our city's population is getting better educated and more affluent. We're seeing gratifying numbers of residents participate in ResiStat and volunteer for community events and projects of all kinds. Yet none of that has translated into direct participation in our most basic act of self-government. I have also heard it said that there may be another factor at work here: in hard economic times, when difficult choices have to be made at every level of government, fewer people want the job of elected official. That troubles me, because at no time are the stakes higher and the need for leadership greater than when we face an economic or social crisis. But that brings me to the positive side of interpreting these election results. Our Board of Aldermen and School Committee have both had to make some hard decisions over the past two years, and they have shown real courage and resolve. The fact that many aldermen and school committee members were unopposed - and that, with one notable exception, those who faced opposition handily defeated their opponents - suggests to me that Somerville is generally satisfied with the quality of leadership it is receiving from its elected officials. In the one close race this year - for the Ward 4 School Committee seat - there were two strong candidates. Both worked hard, with the challenger, Christine Rafal, winning a narrow but convincing victory over my friend, incumbent Jamie Norton. Both candidates can be proud of the level of interest they generated, and there can be no doubt that Christine is a well-qualified and energetic candidate. The day after the election, Jamie wrote on Facebook that he was "sure Christine Rafal will do an excellent job representing Ward 4 on the School Committee." I echo his sentiments. As for my own re-election, I am humbled and honored that - despite the fact that I was unopposed - fully 80 percent of those who cast a ballot last Tuesday took the time to vote for me. The last time I ran unopposed, in 2005, only 70 percent of the participating voters formally affirmed their support for me. It's nice to know that, even when they disagree with me about specific issues, Somerville's voters still have my back. Believe me, I don't take that support for granted, and will continue to do my very best to honor the trust placed in me as mayor. I look forward to working closely with the Board of Aldermen and the School Committee as we face two more challenging and busy years. With the continuing pressures on local budgets, it won't be easy to maintain the progress we've made in improving our schools, expanding city services, and promoting long-term transit and economic development projects like Assembly Square, but we have to try - and I am grateful to be able to work with such a strong, seasoned and courageous group of elected officials. I also want to offer a word of appreciation to the unsuccessful candidates who showed their commitment to our city by standing for office. While they may not have been voted into office, their willingness to serve and their concern for their fellow residents make all of them winners. Last Wednesday night at the annual Chamber of Commerce dinner (a big success, by the way), keynote speaker Darnell Williams, President of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, quoted Theodore Roosevelt's famous observation that "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena . . . who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." The only real losers in this election are the ones who didn't care enough to get involved - or even to vote. I am profoundly grateful to the voters who give us the opportunity and the privilege of serving this great city. No matter how you voted, you are all winners - and I hope your ranks will grow in the difficult years ahead.

Comments

[CAP]

We should remember that a large percentage of our neighbors cannot vote even if they wanted to. Many Somervillians who have full and legal residency status cannot vote because they have not yet acheived United States citizenship.

These people are actively and positively involved in our community as residents, business owners, church-goers, teachers, servicemen, and more. However, their voice cannot be heard through the local voting process like the rest of us.

While we cannot (nor should) change federal election law, we should consider ways that these good neighbors of ours can become better represented and more truly involved in the municipal working of our city that so many native Somervillians take for granted.