Now is time to get involved locally

The right to vote is meaningless when there is no choice to make. Two years ago, for example, more than half of the non-partisan seats on the various ballots in DuPage County were filled by default because there was only one candidate or no candidate at all.

So we voters had no choice in 53 percent of all the officials "elected," then they each got 100 percent of the vote. Eight years ago, only 47 percent were not chosen by anybody except themselves, so the trend is getting worse.

Our school districts spend 75 percent of our property tax money, and it is very easy to get on the ballot, but there was full competition for only 10 percent of the seats on the school boards. Full competition for city or village boards was 35 percent, parks 14 percent, fire 13 percent and library boards only 1 percent.

We have enough voters, but not enough candidates.

With so many elected officials just strolling into power, it is time for anyone interested in better government to run for office.

There are about 500 local seats up for election in DuPage County next April 5, but the nomination papers must be turned in by Dec. 20. (Putting the cut-off so far ahead of the election is one way incumbents unconstitutionally discourage any opponents from running.)

Nomination papers are available now at your local school, park, library, or fire headquarters or city or village hall. For most offices, only 25 valid signatures are required.

So instead of leaving your taxes, decisions, and fate in the hands of those insiders who know when to run, now is the time to do something more important than voting: becoming a candidate and giving everyone else a choice in who they can vote for.

Stan Zegel

Former Winfield

village trustee