Exercise your right to vote

When I was this newspaper’s Mahoning County government and courthouse reporter, one of my favorite assignments was attending naturalization ceremonies for new citizens.

The common pleas judges, before administering the oath of allegiance to the new Americans, always emphasized that one of the privileges of becoming an American was that they now enjoyed the right to vote.

As I watched these people, many of whom shed tears as they realized their dream of becoming an American citizen, I saw how precious and important citizenship was to them. And, each election, I marvel at how many natural-born Americans fail to exercise our voting rights.

I am particularly amazed at how many black people continue to make up excuses to either avoid going to the polls or even registering to vote. The polls open in Ohio at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6. I don’t understand how you cannot make the time to cast your ballot within those hours. And it takes only a few minutes to do so.

I won’t go into a history lesson on how black people were denied this basic right in this country for hundreds of years. There have been enough books written and documentaries filmed on that topic.

Although this isn’t a presidential election year — that takes place in 2008 — there are some critical races this month that could forge a new direction for our city.

Because of term limitations, many incumbent council members cannot run for re-election. That means there will be six new faces on council in 2008. The lone incumbent is Councilwoman Carol Rimedio-Righetti. There are only three contested races for council — in the 1st, 3rd and 7th wards. If you want your candidate to win and become a part of the new council, you have to make the time to get out and vote.

This new council will have little experience in the job of helping to run a city. It is important for you to do your homework, find out what the candidates would like to do if they are elected, then make an informed choice in the voting booth.

Likewise, four seats are up for election on the Youngstown Board of Education.

I shouldn’t have to tell you how critical this election is for the school district. This paper and all other news outlets have chronicled the school system’s travails. It is hemorrhaging red ink, and passage of the 9.5-mill levy on the ballot is crucial to help keep the school system solvent. Even if the levy passes, latest cash-flow projections show the district will still have a $6 million deficit at the end of fiscal 2008, which is June 30, 2008.

The vote on the levy, in itself, should bring city voters, many of them in the predominantly black 1st and 2nd wards, to the polls.

But, in the school board race, there are two incumbents running for re-election. If you feel they are part of the problem and not the solution, you have the chance Tuesday to vote them out. There are seven people running for those four seats, including a woman of Latin descent.

One of the big excuses I have heard over the years is, “I don’t have a way to get to the polls to vote.”

That is so lame, and here’s why.

If something is really important to us, we find a way to get it done or get to where we need to be. We call on neighbors, friends, or anyone else we can think of who will help us achieve our goal. We call a taxi; we take the bus; and if all else fails, we walk if necessary. In a government of the people, by the people and for the people, voting is just that important.

The Junior Civic League of Youngstown and the Community Mobilization Committee are even offering rides to the polls from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Election Day. Here are the numbers:

UAssociated Neighborhood Center, (330) 744-4377.

U New Bethel Baptist Church, (330) 747-2125.

U OCCHA, (330) 781-1808.

The right to vote should be as highly esteemed as any other right we enjoy as American citizens. Make the decision now that, barring any personal unforeseen circumstance, you will let your voice be heard at the ballot box Tuesday.

ebrown@vindy.com