More community involvement

Dear Editor;

I am increasingly concerned with the lack of involvement that is being shown by the citizens who reside in our City. As I go about my day to day business, I overhear a great deal of discussion of the issues that are before us as a community. Whether it's in the coffee shop, the grocery line or on the street, it seems as though people are concerned with the problems we face, buy not to the point of finding out the facts first hand.

I will site the current water advisory meetings as an example. In attendance at the last several meetings of the water advisory board were less than of 1 percent of our local population. And that figure would include the members of the board, the city staff, and the members of the engineering firms. As a result of this turnout I am left with the impression that a vast majority of McCook's citizens are not terribly concerned with our water situation. Yet almost all of them have an opinion one way or the other.

The primary elections that were held this last May resulted in less than 30percent of our registered voters even bothering to voice their opinion by exercising their right to vote. And then when I hear so many people claiming that the City Council members are not responsible, intelligent people, I have to wonder if the people complaining have the right to do so.

We are extremely fortunate to have an election process that is based entirely on the opinion of the people. We have always been given the option of choosing those who will look out for our best interests. With that in mind, I want to remind you that whether it is the current council or a group of council members from years past, we are responsible for putting them in the seats they hold.

When the votes are counted at the end of an election, the persons with the most votes win. And this is true whether 100 people or 1,000 people vote. If the 30 percent who voted this last May happened to be of the same opinion as you, then you feel fortunate. But if you waited for the other 70percent who didn't vote to handle it for you, then you are not represented in the way you would like to be. I can't feel confident in letting 30 percent of the population make decisions that directly effect 100 percent of our population.

As a candidate for the City Council in the November election I find myself in the position of receiving informational materials that the council members receive in order to study and understand the situations they face. The general public doesn't always understand the complexities of these issues, so informational meetings are held for the benefit of the public. I urge the public to attend these meetings. We are all going to be responsible for funding the solutions to the problems that we face. I believe that having first hand information is crucial. We can't rely on second hand information.

I still see enormous potential for our little Southwest Nebraska City, but in order to realize even the smallest rewards we must achieve a greater level of cooperation and trust.

We have to take the time to protect our own interests and see to it that we are being represented accurately. And we have to be heard in the polling booth. We will be represented by the largest vote getters whether we agree with it or not. So make your voice heard.

Schedules for upcoming informational meetings will be published in the paper, and can be obtained from the city offices on request. Please take the time to be informed.

Jerry Reitz McCook