Archive: Opinions

You know that book, "Eat, Pray, Love"?  Well, this Election Day I am saying Vote, Eat, Drink Coffee.  Here's why:

Tuesday is election day.  This is what they call an off-year election, meaning that we're only voting for local candidates.  No sexy presidential election.  No controversial members of congress.  Turnout is notoriously low in off-years.  But this year, if you care about our community, you should take the few minutes to cast your vote, because this year's election is a really important one for the Town.

Two very different groups are encouraging Lansing residents to vote this year.  The North Lansing Auxiliary is holding its annual Election Day Dinner and Supper at Fire Station 4 in North Lansing.  And the Lansing Market is offering free coffee to anybody who comes in wearing their "I voted" sticker Tuesday morning.  So if you don't care about voting for a particular candidate or particular issues, isn't it worth it for an amazing meal or a cup of coffee?

Oh, don't they say the election is especially important every year?  Well, I suppose "they" do, but I am not "they".  This year the election will especially important for three reasons.

First, the personalities and vision of the two Supervisor candidates are very different, not only their personalities, but more importantly, their visions for the immediate and long-term future of Lansing.  Secondly, there is a widespread perception in the Town that the board has lost touch with what is good for Lansing as a whole, as opposed to what is best for one or the other party's vision.  Third, there seems to be a fundamental disagreement about the role of the comprehensive plan, and a lot of confusion because it is still being revised.  While all the candidates agree it is a guide, a living document that is not written in stone or in law, some of the candidates seem more inclined to view it as a guide to what the majority of the townspeople want for the future of their town.  And some candidates seem, possibly, more inclined to act on it.


Incumbent Supervisor Kathy Miller and Councilman Ed LaVigne have been perceived as sparring along party lines, at first with a Democratic majority on the Board and now a Republican majority that has led to gridlock on most significant town initiatives.  The council members have fallen in along party lines for the most part.  But on January 1st, one or the other supervisor candidates will be off the board, providing the winner with an opportunity to move forward to shape the Town with her or his vision.  And if the board member candidates are to believed, voting will be independent, not along party lines.

Miller stresses planning and responsible budgeting.  She envisions a town center in South Lansing (which is actually the middle of Lansing, where the Town Hall is).  She says a town center with denser development will go a long way toward discouraging suburban sprawl, will attract business to Lansing, and will help protect agricultural land in the north of town.  She wants to establish capital and equipment reserve funds that she says will enable a five year capital plan for future purchases at first, and perhaps a ten year plan later.  She argues passionately for a full time planner, which she insists will not cost more than the Town is paying now for a part-time planner (because the government has to make more use of the Town Attorney and Engineer when the planner is only part time).

LaVigne says he isn't against a town center per se, but he prefers market-driven development.  He sees new development as moving up from the south of town (the actual south part that adjoins the Village of Lansing) and envisions new infrastructure growing from residents there who are willing to cover the cost of expanding sewer.  His vision includes less government involvement, and he says if a commercial town center does evolve from expansion in the south of town it will be driven by developers and business people, not by the Town government.  He argues that the Town is saving money with its part time planner, and has a completely different view of budget management, which involves line item by line item accountability at the time when equipment requests are made.

All four of the Town Board candidates told me they want to represent all of Lansing and will vote independently, not along party lines.  Three of the four have served on the board in the past and stress their experience.  The fourth says it's time for a new perspective.  Nobody argues that all five board members (including the Supervisor) will or should agree on every issue.  But a considerable number of the candidates (and concerned residents) have argued that the board needs a good injection of respectful discourse, something they say has been lacking since Steve Farkas was Supervisor.

In over ten years of existence, the Lansing Star has never endorsed a candidate, and we never will.  Instead I make a point of interviewing each candidate in the contested races, asking the same questions and transcribing their answers.  The idea is that you can compare what each said and make up your own mind.  You don't need my opinion to do that.

Click here to read all the interviews: two candidates for Supervisor and four candidates for two open Town Board seats.  I also interviewed the candidate for Highway Superintendent, because he is the only uncontested candidate who has never run before.  I know who I'm voting for.  Do you?

Whichever party you belong to or sympathize with, I urge you to read all the interviews with an open mind and pick the best candidates for all of Lansing.  Not North Lansing or South Lansing.  Not Red Lansing or Blue Lansing.  Not Old Lansing and New Lansing.  All of Lansing.  And let's elect a board that can work together to make things happen that matter to the majority of us.

Whatever you think, it is extra important that you vote in Tuesday's election.  More than any Lansing election I can remember, the outcome will have the potential to make a dramatic impact on our town's future.

So this Tuesday (November 3): Vote.  Eat.  Drink coffee.

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