Letter to the Editor: Primary turnout is important in 2015

As you might know, we currently have an active primary election. It is finishing up on Tuesday, May 5, 2015.

This represents your chance to exercise your role as part the government of the United States of America. We are of, by, and for the people; we don’t have government and citizens as two different classes. So your voice means something, be it in local, state, or federal elections.

Here in Jasper, as with Huntingburg, we have contested primary positions for the Republican Party.

First off, every resident has the opportunity to vote in the primary for either party regardless of past voting records.

This means every Jasper resident can take part in the Republican nominee mayoral race between Mayor Terry Seitz and challenger Steve Messmer.

As a regional majority of libertarians, conservatives, or some version of both melded together, this is a chance to vote based on our principles. Is Jasper following fiscal conservative policies? Is the government size and its regulations limited to maximize liberty? Are taxes kept low? Is spending kept in check and processes to reduce excessive spending actively being pursued? Is governmental transparency appropriate, so we all can stay informed?

Additionally, we now have an active Redevelopment Commission (RDC) and the Mayor’s majority power over it to consider. Do the actions being taken by the RDC/Mayor, around the Parklands, TIF, and the expansive city vision, fit within our conservative principles?

Added together, these proposals will easily cost tens of millions of dollars and take more land off the property tax rolls than most likely be added back. This is a very important matter to have an opinion on, as it crosses multiple of our fundamental principles.

This is why your vote is so important.

In 2014, Jasper and the county at large, had about 18% less voters than 2010 (the previous mid-cycle election), meaning over 800 less Jasper residents decided to vote, which probably changed the results for multiple races. What does this mean for you and me? It means we have less people driving the political direction locally and statewide, which empowers those with money and positions of influence.

One check we have against smaller sized groups of large political influence is the ability to vote for a candidate you want regardless of what the big money ads tell you to do.

So for those who stopped voting, it is time to come back and have your voice be heard now, and up through November 2016. It is that important to get reengaged. This is about who drives direction of the future of the community.

Will ‘we the people’ and reduced government interference rule the day, or will we continue the corruption and high regulation at the Federal level head our way? Your choice. I hope and pray you decide to return and vote, as Dubois County and Jasper don’t need another 2014 low turnout.

Adrian Engelberth
Jasper