Traction

Hello fellow Tractivists,

It’s that time of year again – time to make our voices heard on the most pressing issues of the day (and no, I’m not talking about whether college football should have a playoff or not – though that’s a subject near and dear to my heart). I’m referring, of course, to our upcoming local elections.

But many of us are not as engaged with our local political landscape, where decisions are made every day that are more likely to directly impact us on a daily basis. Our local leaders shape what type of schools our children will be educated in; which economic development projects get funding and focus; where new real estate developments will go and how environmentally-friendly they are; and what our commutes, entertainment options, and even basic day-to-day interactions might consist of.

WHAT: Speed CandiDating: Election Happy Hour
WHEN: TONIGHT, Oct 29, 5:30-7:30 PM
WHERE: Bull McCabes, 427 W Main St., Durham
RSVP: candiDating@getTraction.org

Here in Durham, less than 5% of eligible primary voters turned out earlier this month to help select the candidates now vying for election to some of our key local leadership posts.

One big reason is the feeling some of us have that we don’t know enough about the candidates and the issues at stake. Fortunately, the candidates are eager to help us with that, and vibrant local organizations like Traction are  helping us, the voters, talk with them through fun and informative events such as Speed CandiDating, which is tonight.

So come on out and get some face time with your fellow citizens and the folks who are vying for positions where they’ll make critical decisions for our community. Tell them what you think, listen to the ideas they prioritize, and then go vote next week (or better yet, vote early).

But don’t stop there: use this as an opportunity to find out how you can be more involved in local politics on a regular basis. Find that citizen advisory board or public meeting where the issues you’re passionate about are being discussed, and then go make your voice heard there, too.

I sometimes have trouble justifying the time and energy it takes to do these things. I’m too busy with work, there’s too much to do around the house, and sometimes my brain just doesn’t seem capable of much more than trying to follow a Law and Order rerun.

But it seems every time I make it to an event where local issues are being discussed, something serendipitous happens. I meet someone or get interested in something that may have nothing to do with the reason I went, and my life gets a little richer as a result.  Or sometimes I just get a recommendation for a great Thai place.  Whatever it is, I always come away feeling a little more rooted, a little more connected to the people in my city, a little more generous, and a little more alive.

So tonight, come meet the candidates, mingle with your fellow Durhamites, and maybe have a mystical experience of democracy in action. And if those aren’t reasons enough, well — there’s also going to be beer.

See you out there,

Brett
runner, regular C-SPAN viewer, Tractivist

P.S. Upcoming events:
11/12 How to Be a Good Ally. Write to ally[at]getTraction[dot]org for more info.