Political junkies, here you go
Popping open a pot of political potpourri:
1. PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT: Back on March 9 in this space, The Press announced a new policy in publishing candidate endorsement letters. For the first time, the newspaper is accepting endorsement letters from subscribers only.
If you look at cdapress.com but don’t pay for it; if your office gets the newspaper but you aren’t the one footing the bill; and even if you occasionally pick up a copy of The Press at the gas station or grocery store; we welcome your letters to the editor.
However, the candidate endorsement letters are limited to our best customers, the people who have been Press subscribers for at least 90 days. What remains the same is that letters are limited to one per person, per election cycle, no more than 275 words. Letters must be received no later than 5 p.m. May 9. Email your candidate endorsement letters to Mike Patrick: mpatrick@cdapress.com
2. GUIDE ON ITS WAY: On Monday, April 30, Press subscribers and single-copy buyers will receive a 2018 primary election voters guide. This special section contains stories about the 20 Kootenai County men and women in contested races for judge (District 1), county commissioner and state legislature.
3. PRIMARY PARTICULARS: The Republican primary has been closed since 2012, when the party successfully sued the state to keep Democrats and independents out. (Democrats still conduct an open primary.) If you’re an independent who would prefer to choose among the many Republicans seeking office, you need to register as a Republican. You can do that at the Elections Office, 1808 N. Third St., Coeur d’Alene, weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Information: Call 208-446-1030.
Don’t wait until the last minute. To register and/or to cast an absentee ballot, the sooner you do it, the shorter your wait is likely to be and the less chaos you’ll risk facing on May 15.
4. RE-EXAMINE YOUR PRIORITIES: Life is pretty good these days, isn’t it? And you’re busy. Never enough hours in the day to do everything that needs to be done, let alone those other things you’d really enjoy doing.
Voting is easy. Knowing what you’re doing in the ballot box isn’t.
It takes work. It takes awareness. It requires a mind-set that goes beyond what’s good for you and your family; it reaches that higher, more sacred level of doing something with the intent that your community, the state, maybe the world will be a slightly better place because of your vote.
Please don’t turn your back on this responsibility.