Voting becomes issue for commission candidates

Analysis:

This article is strictly about the number of times that the various candidates have voted in elections since 1998. The article frames this topic as a young versus old issue, noting that the younger candidates generally had not voted as often as the older candidates. The article provides the ages of several of the candidates as well as the number of elections they had voted in. Also included in the article were quotes from the candidates about either there own or their opponents voting record. The only other information included in the article is some census information about the percentage of 18 to 29 year olds that vote.

While a voting record does provide one indicator of how involved a particular person has been in following local politics, it does not tell the whole story. There are plenty of other ways that someone can be involved in the community and in local politics that does not involve voting. So for instance, actions such as writing or visiting elected representatives, giving money to political causes, or being part of an advocacy group are all ways that some of these candidates have been involved with politics that don’t entail voting. Aside from that, the more important thing to point out is that this article does not tell the reader anything about where the candidate stands on issues. So while a reader might be impressed that a candidate has consistently voted in every election, this information is not much use to the reader if the candidate has consistently voted for things the reader might not agree with. We have yet to see in the Grand Rapids press an in-depth look at what the GR city commission candidates stand for, and what their platforms are.

Story:

Voting becomes issue for commission candidates
Friday, July 22, 2005
By STEVEN HARMON
THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS

GRAND RAPIDS — For some Grand Rapids City Commission candidates, voting is a way of life. For others, particularly the young, it’s an afterthought. At least, it had been.

Two of the 11 candidates own perfect voting records since 1998, when the city clerk’s office began keeping tallies in the Qualified Voters File.

First Ward Commissioner James Jendrasiak and one of his challengers, Mary Milanowski, have voted in all 24 elections since 1998.

The worst voting records belong to the candidates younger than 35: Evvia Marshall, Rosalynn Bliss, Dan Tietema, and John Clark, all voted in less than half of the elections. Clark said this week he’s dropping out of the race, but it’s too late to remove his name from the ballot.

Voting records typically become an issue in races, and Shaula Johnston, who is vying to replace outgoing 2nd Ward Commissioner Lynn Rabaut, has made it so against Bliss, who has voted in six of 23 elections.

“Why is it that (Bliss) sat on the sidelines?” asked Johnston, who voted in 20 of the last 23 elections. “If she’s so concerned about my city, why doesn’t she ever vote in my city?”

Bliss, 29, said a combination of things kept her from the polls.

“I was working full time, going to school full time,” she said. “You’re creating your space in the world, developing roots. As you feel more connected, you feel you need to get involved. With age, it’s true, we learn how important voting is.”

Art Kroon, 64, also a 2nd Ward candidate who has voted in 18 of 23 elections, said, “you vote because you care about your government and the city, and if you don’t, it’s because you don’t care. I don’t know how you can be an effective voice for others if you’ve been silent at the polls.”

Marshall, 25, who is challenging 3rd Ward Commissioner Jim White, voted in five of the past 20 elections since she registered in 1999. White has voted in 22 of 23 elections since 1998.

Younger voters don’t feel connected to the political process, Marshall said.

“If you’re not represented, it’s hard for a younger person to be motivated to vote,” she said. “That’s why I’m running, to get younger people more involved.”

A national survey among 18- to 29-year-olds showed nearly 60 percent agreed with the statement that “having more young people in office would make government and politics better.”

In last year’s presidential election, turnout among voters ages 18 to 29 rose to 51.6 percent, from 42.3 percent in 2000. But participation among young voters has been on the decline — by 13 percent — since 18-year olds were given the right to vote in 1972, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Dan Tietema, 35, also challenging White, has voted in 10 of the past 23 elections, and passed over all local elections until he cast a ballot in a Kent Intermediate School District special election in February, 2004.

“My interest in politics really started at the national scene and the state,” he said. “My commitment to the city didn’t get started until recently.”

White, 65, says he votes to stay in touch with the issues. “If you put forth the effort to vote, it encourages you to get information,” he said.

Dave Shaffer, 26, challenging Jendrasiak in the 1st Ward, has voted five times since he first registered in October, 2000 — a span of 15 elections. Since he moved to Grand Rapids in May of 2004, he has voted in three of four races.

“It’s become important since my wife and I became established here,” Shaffer said.

Jendrasiak, 51, lamented the lack of participation among young voters, although he declined to criticize opponents.

“As soon as we get that right to vote, we should be exercising it and becoming involved in the process,” he said.

Milanowski, 64, said she used to tell her children on Election Day, when they first began to vote, “bring back that little ‘I Voted’ sticker if you want dinner tonight.”