Why go to the polls Tuesday? Because it's good citizenship

In the May primary, voters in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties proved elections officials right. The turnout at the polls was so low it became one of the major news stories of the night. We're sure the officials would rather have been proved wrong.
The apathy on the part of area residents was inexplicable considering the number of important races and issues on the Democratic and Republican ballots. The message that emanated from the low turnout could be summed up in three words: We don't care.
That troubles us because the Mahoning Valley is at a crossroads in its political history and the decisions made now by the voters will have long-term ramifications. We hope that what occurred in May is an aberration, but we'll know for certain tomorrow, the day of the general election.
There are statewide races, from governor on down, two congressional contests in the region, state Senate and House races and a host of important school issues that demand the attention of the voters. It isn't someone else's responsibility to go to the polls; it's yours.
For the residents of the new 17th Congressional District, which encompasses almost all of Trumbull County, a section of Mahoning County and portions of Portage and Summit counties, Tuesday's election should be viewed as a political cleansing.
The man who represented the tri-county area in Congress since 1985 is now in a federal penitentiary in Pennsylvania. But James A. Traficant Jr. of Poland, a Democrat, is again seeking the title of congressman and is on the ballot as an independent. There are two other candidates in the race, Democrat Tim Ryan, a state senator from Niles, and Republican Ann Womer Benjamin, a state representative from Aurora.
The nation will be watching to see whether the voters of the Valley have learned anything from the Traficant saga.
In the 6th Congressional District, which encompasses the southern portion of Mahoning County, Columbiana County and several other counties along the Ohio River, Democrat Ted Strickland, who is currently in Congress, is competing against Republican Mike Halleck, a former Columbiana County commissioner.
Although the Republican General Assembly refused to keep Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties in one congressional district, the prospect of having two members of Congress represent the region should draw voters' attention to the races.
Over the past several weeks, we have interviewed candidates in all the state races and selected local races as part of our endorsement process. What follows is a summary of The Vindicator's recommendations for tomorrow's general election.
Statewide
Governor: Bob Taft
Attorney General: Jim Petro
Auditor: Betty Montgomery
Secretary of State: Kenneth Blackwell
Treasurer: Joseph Deters
Supreme Court: Evelyn Stratton
Tim Black
Congress
6th District: Ted Strickland
17th District: Ann Womer Benjamin
State Senate
33rd District: Robert F. Hagan
State Representative
1st District: Charles Blasdel
59th District: Kenneth Carano
60th District: Sylvester Patton
61st District: John Boccieri
65th District: Sandra Stabile Harwood
Commissioner
Mahoning County: David Ludt
Trumbull County: Don Manning
Columbiana County: David Cranmer
Courts
7th District Appeals: Joseph J. Vukovich
Cheryl Waite
11th District Appeals: Cynthia Rice
Judith Christley
Mahoning Common Pleas: R. Scott Krichbaum
Mahoning County Probate: Timothy Maloney
Mahoning County Court: Diane Vettori
Schools
The future of the Mahoning Valley rests with an educated workforce, and the foundations of this education are laid in our schools. Absent another way of funding public primary and secondary schools, the property tax remains the primary source of revenue. Thus, school districts depend on the good will and foresight of the voters. The Vindicator makes no apologies for supporting the new tax levies and renewals on the ballot this year because we believe that the beneficiaries, the pupils, deserve every chance to succeed.
County levies
All last week, The Vindicator used the front page to lay out the case for renewing the 0.5 percent sales tax in Mahoning County. These streamers culminated in a rare page one editorial Sunday in support of the tax. We urge voters to refer to our week-long campaign.
We also support the passage of the 1-mill additional levy for Trumbull LifeLines, formerly the Trumbull County Board of Alcohol, Drugs and Mental Health. LifeLines provides clinical services to about 10,000 residents each year and preventive services for about 20,000 through 28 programs.