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November 01, 2006
Unlock the Mind, Then Approach the Voting Booth
A liberal libertarian's endorsements
And, just for fun, we have predictions!
Being overly partisan has one “advantage,” if you want to call it that. It’s easy to fill out a ballot on Election Day. Similarly, those who are told how to vote in church never have to strain a synapse. I’d never be presumptuous enough to tell you how to vote, but I have expended considerable time and energy looking into this year’s races, and therefore can offer personal recommendations that will hopefully guide you through the process in one way or another – i.e., toward or away from the point of view presented here. Most importantly, make up your own mind.
Governor
I’ll be voting for my friend Howard Switzer, who is a Green Party leader but, according to our stifling ballot laws, must run as a label-less Independent. Phil Bredesen neither needs my vote to win nor appeals to me in a way significant enough to sway my support for an alternative candidate and thus signal a challenge to the existing duopoly.
Prediction: The incumbent wins by a wide margin.
Constitution Amendment One
I don’t guess there’ll be a “Hell, No” option, so a No vote will have to suffice. Contrary to what you may be thinking, the reason is not simply that I am a big supporter of gay marriage. I do happen to believe that homosexual marriages should be granted the same legal status as heterosexual marriages, but that’s not the point. The trouble with this referendum is its intended abuse of the state’s constitution for such a shortsighted and benefit-bereft end. No one has been able to demonstrate how society will be damaged if this amendment isn’t adopted.
Prediction: This, too, shall pass.
Constitution Amendment Two
Or, the forgotten ballot measure. Do the votes count if not many people realize what it is they’re deciding? When I last looked at this it seemed harmless enough, but since then debate points have been raised that put me at “less than decided.” In keeping with the principle outlined above, is this something that makes it worth changing our state’s foundational document? I’m probably sticking with my Yes vote because passage would open up tax-freeze decisions to local control (provided a bill were to pass in the General Assembly), but I can still be convinced otherwise until I darken that oval next Tuesday.
Prediction: Fails due to a low vote count.
United States Senate
Well, Tennessee, it looks like we get to decide. But decide what? A moderately conservative Republican, our “hometown hero” Bob Corker, faces a rather conservative Democrat, 9th District Congressman Harold Ford Jr. Many have opined, and I cannot disagree, that the hypothetical Senate voting pattern of each looks extremely similar to that of the other. Control of the chamber is a different matter altogether, though, because of committee assignments and agenda direction. With that in mind, it’s likely that I’ll be casting a vote against GOP control, so that they can step down and regroup into a responsible party, and the only way to do that is to vote for the smooth-talking Harold Ford Jr. – but this is far from an endorsement of Ford’s family-machine politics and shameless pandering. I wouldn’t blame anyone for just leaving this one blank, and I never say that.
Prediction: I’m going to stick my neck out and say that Ford wins by a nose, through some kind of GOTV miracle. Do I still get to attend the Corker election night event?
United States House of Representatives
District 3: Zach Wamp made a fuss over being refused a chance to debate former Rep. Marilyn Lloyd, and when he later won her former seat, he promised to serve only six terms. Now he will not debate a serious opponent, Brent Benedict; and, uh, those six terms are up. Even though Rep. Wamp is to be commended for his service, and spent only parts of his tenure as a rubber stamp for a president’s agenda, Benedict is a promising candidate that deserves our votes.
Prediction: Wamp will hang on.
Tennessee State Senate
Although I will probably look for some way to vote against Ward Crutchfield, I doubt I’ll find one. District 10 will be up in 2008. In District 11, Rep. Bo Watson is the man.
Tennessee House of Representatives
District 26: No endorsement; Rep. Gerald McCormick is unopposed.
District 27: Bill Lusk is endorsed; Richard Floyd is predicted to win.
District 28: Isaac “Ike” Robinson is endorsed; Rep. Tommie Brown will win.
District 29: No endorsement; Rep. JoAnne Favors is unopposed.
District 30: Vince Dean is unopposed.
District 31: No endorsement; Jim Cobb will win handily.
Chattanooga Municipal Elections
Ordinance 11872: Yes, change how board replacements are made so that the remaining board members don’t just pick their buddies; but then let’s hold the current and future mayors’ feet to the fire so that they don’t just pick their buddies instead.
Ordinance 11873: Yes, untie the City Engineer position from the potential for crony appointment by a new mayor coming into office.
Ordinance 11877: No, keep city government positions, even those not popularly elected, from being occupied by those who hold other offices. Encourage more citizen participation in local government by keeping these positions out of reach of those already serving in a different capacity. Speaking of double dipping, voting this proposed ordinance down also helps prevent the undue influence of people holding contracts with the city.
I’m going to assume that the smaller towns’ papers have good articles espousing and decrying, as necessary, the various executive, commission, and charter positions on those local ballots. Wherever you live, please do vote, and bring a friend or two. Either I need your help for my causes, or you need to work hard to outdo my efforts.
[This column appears in the November 1, 2006 Pulse.]
Pulsations | By joe lance | 07:59 AM