Wednesday, October 6, 2021

Who Wants to Run for Local Office?

Early voting begins in just seventeen days--on Saturday, October 23. Sample ballots can be viewed at the Board of Elections website and absentee ballots are already going out to those voters who have requested them. The sad thing is that the ballots for the First Ward and the Third Ward in Hudson contain the names of people, running unopposed, who are no longer actually running.

In the First Ward, there are two and only two people whose names appear on the ballot as candidates for the two alderman seats: Art Frick and Gary Purnhagen. There were never any choices for alderman in the First Ward this year. The two people, both Democrats, who got the requisite number of signatures on their petitions got on the ballot without being primaried, and since there are no candidates from other parties running, they were certain to win. But back in July, Purnhagen dropped out of the race. Although his name is still on the ballot, voting for him would be meaningless. The ballot, as it is printed, provides voters in the First Ward with only one choice: Frick. 

Fortunately, for First Ward voters, there is someone who has stepped up and decided to run a write-in campaign. That person is Margaret Morris. So, although First Ward voters still don't actually have a choice, they are not forced to abdicate the selection of their representative in city government to the Common Council, which is what would happen if there were not a write-in candidate. First Ward voters can write in the name "Margaret Morris," easily remembered and easily spelled, at the bottom of the column farthest to the right on the ballot, in the box labeled "Write-in."  

The Third Ward is in a similar situation. Two and only two names appear on the ballot as candidates for the two alderman seats: Calvin Lewis and Ryan Wallace. As with the First Ward candidates, Lewis and Wallace got the requisite number of signatures on their petitions and got on the ballot, unprimaried and unopposed by candidates from another party. But during the summer, Lewis, who was serving as one of the two Third Ward aldermen, took a job with the Youth Department, and as a consequence, in early July, he resigned as an alderman and as a candidate for re-election. Wallace, the other candidate now on the ballot, was appointed to replace him on the Council. 

As with the First Ward, the ballot provides only one choice for the two Third Ward alderman seats on the Council: Wallace. Unlike the First Ward, however, no one has announced, not to Gossips' knowledge at least, that they are running a write-in campaign. So unless a write-in candidate emerges in the next couple of weeks, it appears that the Common Council will be deciding in January who the second person will be to represent the Third Ward.
COPYRIGHT 2021 CAROLE OSTERINK

7 comments:

  1. Carole:
    thank you for letting people know about my decision to run for First Ward Alderman to replace Gary. It is important that the First Ward choose their own representatives.

    I have lived in the First Ward for over 11 years and have participated actively in local affairs. I will be sending out materials in the next week or so, so people should watch their mailboxes. There are three areas that I would like to comment on:

    Accountability:
    -- Will be accountable to the residents of the 1st Ward and will ensure that your voices are heard in City business and decision-making
    -- Will be an active member of the Council and will provide transparency in decision-making

    Committment:
    -- Long-time resident of the 1st Ward
    -- Committed to the long-term health and future of the City
    -- Will consider impact on the City budget in business before the Council

    Experience:
    -- Have devoted over 20 years of my career to working with State and Federal agencies to improve access to quality health care for Medicaid beneficiaries
    -- Experience in developing policies that are consistent with regulatory requirements
    -- Experience in developing collaborative relationships with multiple stakeholders with diverging interests

    If you live in the First Ward, please write in my name.

    I am in the process of calling voters in the First Ward and want to hear what your top concerns are for the City going forward.

    Carole, Thanks again for letting people know about my write-in campaign.

    Margaret Morris

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  2. Thanks Margaret! Appreciate your entry into the game.

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  3. This is wonderful news! I’ve been hoping someone would step up for the 1st. Thank you, Margaret, and looking forward to giving my support.

    Hopefully someone will do the same for the 3rd. People pay so much attention to national politics, but it’s the local elections that can make a noticeable difference to your day to day life. This is too important to leave into the hands of the current cohort in the council.

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  4. Thanks Peter and Union Jack.
    Margaret

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  5. Oh please someone step up as a write-in for the Third Ward. I'm delighted Margaret Morris is running in the 1st Ward.

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  6. Margaret, I look forward to talking with you soon!

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  7. Ms. Morris has been an engaged member of the Hudson community for years. She would be a welcome addition to the Common Council.

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