Group of 20 Determines Village Government – Democratically
Democrats Running Unopposed, the headline in the Trumansburg Free Press reads.
My reflex is to feel offended in some way, to conclude that local democracy has been undermined, and that a small cabal of Trumansburgers is in control of the village, whether we like it or not. Of course, reflexes are not always a reflection of the real requirements of a situation. I don’t need to kick at my doctor when he hits my knee with a rubber hammer.
So Jon Levine, Mary Bouchard, and John Hrubos will be returning to meetings of the Village Board of Trustees, and it appears at first glance that voters in the village won’t have any say in the matter. Luckily, first glance is mistaken.
Voters did have a choice in the matter. Trumansburg Democrats were all invited to a caucus, at which everyone interested could participate in the selection of the Democratic Party’s nominees. About 20 people came. I was one of them. A few people had a few concerns with Levine, Bouchard and Hrubos. But, no Democrat was willing to run against our mayor or the two Democratic villlage trustees up for re-election. Apparently, the misgivings with our current village government weren’t strong enough for anyone to care to do anything about it.
On the Republican side, the same thing happened. No Republican cared enough to start a campaign against the Democratic incumbents. No independents have arranged an insurrection yet either, though there may be a little bit of time for that.
Is that bad? I can’t find myself getting very upset about it. I live in a village where people are mostly content about how things are progressing. That’s pretty lucky.
Am I wrong in this characterization? Well, I am relatively new to the village, so maybe I’m missing something. Readers, please let me know if I am.
I do know this: Democracy is about a lot more than elections. Democracy is about building civic participation in the community: In political parties, government committees, and non-governmental organization. It’s my interest in this level of democracy that led me to establish Finding Ulysses.
The Finding Ulysses web site works kind of like our village government. If you care to participate here on the blog, or at the discussion board, that’s great. But, if you don’t, that’s your choice too, and I promise, I won’t give you a nasty lecture about civic responsibility.
You ask, Jonathan, if you are wrong in “this characterization” of the village. I would suggest that it is unlikely that people who may be not quite so content would be using this medium.
Don, that’s possible, though I’ve found that people who are discontent actually are a lot more likely to be online and vocal in forums like this.