Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce: Vote November 2nd

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: South King Media Founder / Editor Scott Schaefer serves on the Board of Directors of the Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce.

Vote November 2nd

By Andrea H. Reay

Election day is getting closer and closer – Tuesday November 2, 2021 – and while we may not vote for the president this year, it is now more imperative than ever that we cast our vote. Local elections, many argue, are even more important than federal elections. And yet, local elections traditionally have a lower turnout than federal election cycles.

No party or candidate has all the answers to all of the questions we face as a community. But when we come together every election day to cast our votes and make our voices heard, we as Americans perceive one of our most basic and fundamental opportunities. Please don’t take it for granted. Please participate.

In the event that you don’t want to return the ballot on your kitchen counter, I’d like to share 3 reasons why you need to vote and submit this ballot:

1. Local government has a direct impact on your life, your daily life! Do your kids go to school, drive down the street or take the bus to work downtown? School boards, councilors – these are the leaders, policymakers, and officials who direct, manage, and approve budget items to fund schools, police, and fire departments, maintain roads and public transportation, update zoning, and enforce regulations. In short, local government holds your money and controls how it is spent.
2. Local government can lead when the federal government can’t (or hasn’t done it yet)! Civil rights, economic equality, environmental protection – all these are issues that began locally and then expanded at the national level. Where do you want your local government to take the lead? Local governments can act faster and more directly address the needs of their constituents. But only if you state your priorities, and only if your voice is heard, only if you vote.
3. Your vote counts! Often people think that it is not so bad not to participate “this time”. We’re all busy and it can be overwhelming to sift through all of the information available to educate and vote responsibly. Your voice matters and while researching the candidates and topics takes a small amount of time, it is time well spent. Please take the time to make an informed decision. There are also many non-partisan agencies dedicated to sharing information about candidates. We have published our candidate questionnaire on our website https://www.seattlesouthsidechamber.com/candidatesnight and are happy to forward community members to other sources of information. For information on how and where to return your voting slip, see http://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/elections/how-to-vote/ballots/returning-my-ballot.aspx.

Advocacy is a big part of what we do here in the Chamber for our community and our members. We stand up at all levels of government and value the time, commitment and courage of all candidates running for local office.

LEGAL BREAKFAST IS DEC. 9
If you would like to know more about the Chamber’s legislative priorities for 2022, I would like to invite you to our annual legislative breakfast on December 9th, 2021, which we are producing in collaboration with our South Sound Coalition partners. Please follow this link https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XvHPg3RkRDKExiNUeLNW8g or contact the board at [email protected] for more informations.

This article was written by Andrea H. Reay, President / CEO of the Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce, and entitled “One Voice for Business, One Leader in the Community.” Seattle Southside Chamber has served the Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, SeaTac, and Tukwila communities since 1988.

More information about the chamber, including a full list of member benefits and resources, is available on their website at www.SeattleSouthsideChamber.com.

Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce: Vote November 2nd

[ad_1]