Archive: Opinions

EditorialLast week the Lansing Democrats picked two candidates to run for Lansing Town Board.  That is great because the Republicans have also picked two candidates, which means we'll have an actual race.  Having a race is good, because we will actually get to pick a direction we want our town to go in.

The last school board election was a lot less great, with only one candidate running and two seats available.  The good news is that we knew what the one candidate stood for if we cared to ask.  The bad news is that we don't know what the write-in winner stands for, a problem we should all care about when that person is one of a board spending $22 million or so of taxpayer money.

The Town Board doesn't spend that much money in a year, but in many ways it affects our everyday life more directly.  There are debates around town on quality of life versus keeping taxes low at any cost, on how development should proceed (or not proceed), on what will happen if natural gas exploration goes forward, and a number of other issues.  With two Republicans leaving the board the election could significantly change the political balance in the town as well.  There is a lot at stake for both parties. 

Development seems to be the issue that most people have an opinion about.  Some Lansing residents don't want any at all.  Others are worried that the wrong kind of development will negatively affect the quality of life in the town and raise tax assessments that force current residents out.  Still others worry that there is not enough business in Lansing to help mitigate property taxes for homeowners (which will raise taxes to the point that current residents are forced out).

If the candidates do it right, this election could be a debate on how we want to see Lansing grow in the future, and voters can rightly feel they are molding the town and setting its path.  Whatever the quality of the debate, candidates are already staking out their platforms, and some nuggets of uniqueness are emerging.

That means that this might be the best election the town has had in some time.  A significant choice of candidates and a choice of solutions to real issues that many people care about.  It's an opportunity to engage the community and find out what direction we want to go in.  It will be an election worth paying attention to.

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