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From: Sara Otterson
Preston, Minn.
With the November 6 elections right around the corner, it’s important that we all do our homework before voting for our state and federal government officials as well as for our local county, township and school board officials.
Do you really know who is running for office in your local community? Are their intentions and goals clearly laid out? Ultimately, it’s these men and women who will be deciding many important issues such as whether or not to allow frac sand mining to take place within county boundaries or what sort of blufftop development will be allowed. It is our local officials who will decide our zoning ordinances including minimum acreage rules for development. County Commissioners set property tax rates and thereby can impact our local public programs and schools.
We should look closely at each candidate before voting. What kinds of businesses do they operate? How do they treat their employees? Do they provide health insurance or any benefits for their workers? How have they demonstrated a land ethic for the property they own? Are they running for office only to ensure themselves mining access on their land? Are they planning to slap up some rental properties on a blufftop they own? Do they farm 1,000 acres of corn and soybeans and are running for school board or county commissioner to block referendums and ensure that their property taxes won’t increase? Have they lived a life of service and are truly committed to justice and fairness in the community?
Before casting your votes on election day, we must scrutinize the DEMONSTRATED ethics, values and work of each candidate, not just their campaign promises.
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