Moultonborough vote shows support grows for SB2
www.citizen.com March 21, 2008
Editor, The Citizen: Now that we have passed the Moultonborough '08 elections and town meeting, I would like to congratulate the incumbents for their apparent victory and the three write-in candidates for running a stunning effort in three short weeks. To have captured nearly a third of the votes for a write-in campaign makes a statement. The selectmen write-in candidates each garnered 60% of the incumbent Ed Charest and 50% of Chairman Karel Crawford.
But the important number coming from this year's voting was the 56% (town) and 58% (school) of the voters that are asking for the fair voting process of SB2 in Moultonborough. This contest has proven that more than half of the residents of our otherwise quiet little hamlet want to have a fair process of voting. If there was a failure in the campaign, it was that we proponents of SB2 did not fully educate the electorate to (1) understand the simplicity of this voting initiative and (2) dispel the fear-mongering misinformation spewed forth by those that may be giving a fraction of their control back to the electorate by allowing them to vote.
I want to thank all those voters that supported the write-in efforts as well as all those that came out and voted for SB2. Without your efforts and votes we would not be where we are today. You have spoken and clearly, you would like to be able to vote on town issues. By your willingness to learn about SB2 and make the effort to come out to vote, you have shown people like this humble scribe that it is all worthwhile. I salute you and ask that you do the same next year and bring along a couple of friends that offer like-minded thinking.
Selectman Ed Charest made the comment at a selectmen's meeting a few weeks back that the proponents of SB2 "had tried last year ('07) and failed" (40% of the needed 60%) and so we "were wasting the time and expense of the town by trying it all over again". Well, Ed, now that more than half of the town has spoken, we owe it to the majority to try it in '09. It will be on the ballot again.
The large turnout at the town meeting this year, being on a Saturday for the first time, shows this observer that people want to vote if it is available to them. Unfortunately, even though Saturday offers more access, it still leaves those that are out of town or home bound as disenfranchised voters. When the moderator asked for a show of hands of those first timers to town meeting, there were several that went up. This is further indication of the need for SB2.
With a careful study of the numbers from the voting booth (and those allowed absentee ballots) on March 11, all the officials in the elective positions in town should take note that they have had a well-placed "shot across their bow", or at the very least a strong message. And I will dare say that SB2 will be part of the landscape soon. Get used to it and start looking at the reality of it. We should all look at the advantages that it offers and work with the local papers to preprint a synopsis of the ballot with yes/no check boxes as an aid to educate the voters from the deliberative session results.
My guess is that the selectmen, moderator, and the other SB2 opponents in Moultonborough will very quickly be trying to muddy the waters with an effort to establish "another form of government" with a "Charter Commission", as Meredith has already begun researching. This is reinventing the wheel. The voters didn't say we want a charter commission… we want SB2. It is simple; it allows all to vote; it is complete and it is proven. More than half of the population of New Hampshire lives with SB2, while Charter Commissions are few and far between.
Rick Heath
Moultonborough
Editor, The Citizen: Now that we have passed the Moultonborough '08 elections and town meeting, I would like to congratulate the incumbents for their apparent victory and the three write-in candidates for running a stunning effort in three short weeks. To have captured nearly a third of the votes for a write-in campaign makes a statement. The selectmen write-in candidates each garnered 60% of the incumbent Ed Charest and 50% of Chairman Karel Crawford.
But the important number coming from this year's voting was the 56% (town) and 58% (school) of the voters that are asking for the fair voting process of SB2 in Moultonborough. This contest has proven that more than half of the residents of our otherwise quiet little hamlet want to have a fair process of voting. If there was a failure in the campaign, it was that we proponents of SB2 did not fully educate the electorate to (1) understand the simplicity of this voting initiative and (2) dispel the fear-mongering misinformation spewed forth by those that may be giving a fraction of their control back to the electorate by allowing them to vote.
I want to thank all those voters that supported the write-in efforts as well as all those that came out and voted for SB2. Without your efforts and votes we would not be where we are today. You have spoken and clearly, you would like to be able to vote on town issues. By your willingness to learn about SB2 and make the effort to come out to vote, you have shown people like this humble scribe that it is all worthwhile. I salute you and ask that you do the same next year and bring along a couple of friends that offer like-minded thinking.
Selectman Ed Charest made the comment at a selectmen's meeting a few weeks back that the proponents of SB2 "had tried last year ('07) and failed" (40% of the needed 60%) and so we "were wasting the time and expense of the town by trying it all over again". Well, Ed, now that more than half of the town has spoken, we owe it to the majority to try it in '09. It will be on the ballot again.
The large turnout at the town meeting this year, being on a Saturday for the first time, shows this observer that people want to vote if it is available to them. Unfortunately, even though Saturday offers more access, it still leaves those that are out of town or home bound as disenfranchised voters. When the moderator asked for a show of hands of those first timers to town meeting, there were several that went up. This is further indication of the need for SB2.
With a careful study of the numbers from the voting booth (and those allowed absentee ballots) on March 11, all the officials in the elective positions in town should take note that they have had a well-placed "shot across their bow", or at the very least a strong message. And I will dare say that SB2 will be part of the landscape soon. Get used to it and start looking at the reality of it. We should all look at the advantages that it offers and work with the local papers to preprint a synopsis of the ballot with yes/no check boxes as an aid to educate the voters from the deliberative session results.
My guess is that the selectmen, moderator, and the other SB2 opponents in Moultonborough will very quickly be trying to muddy the waters with an effort to establish "another form of government" with a "Charter Commission", as Meredith has already begun researching. This is reinventing the wheel. The voters didn't say we want a charter commission… we want SB2. It is simple; it allows all to vote; it is complete and it is proven. More than half of the population of New Hampshire lives with SB2, while Charter Commissions are few and far between.
Rick Heath
Moultonborough
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