A quick dash to the Ville’s grocery store right before closing last night was more fun than shopping should ever be. One of the lovely ladies behind the check-out counter also worked for my Dad when he and Mom owned the store in that very same building, and she was kind enough to share a memory that made me smile. Chatting about nothing at all lead to conversation insofar as tomorrow’s municipal election. We agreed to disagree on a few of the candidates (I can’t vote anyway) but what struck me is that the political party of each candidate discussed was not even mentioned.
In a small town, oftentimes what you did in the 8th grade is much more important than if you’re Democrat or Republican. And, in some ways, that’s pretty incredible. I get it — a person’s values and prior actions — or even how they currently live their personal lives — can determine how they will handle an elected position. In the ville, we pretty much know everyone, as well as their personal business — and we may even know what they ate for dinner last night. Or what we HEARD they ate for dinner.
I guess that’s not so very different from any election, except small town folks don’t get “the real grit” from watching commercials. Still, casting a vote for a candidate based on exaggerated or even tainted information (good or bad), still beats voting for a candidate based solely on party affiliation. Doesn’t it?
Here’s hoping that any incumbents defeated in tomorrow’s race (or didn’t throw their name in the hat for re-election) have fond memories of their service to the Ville…
