David Reynolds: The Electoral Mirror

Elections are not just about winners and losers. They are about you and me, the electorate who voted for those who won and lost. Thus, an election is a mirror of ourselves.

So, what did we say about ourselves? We laid out a comfort zone. If a candidate was outside of it, he or she was not able to catch the brass ring. We said that how we feel about a candidate is how we like to feel about ourselves. We prefer to speak and live softly. If you want to win, we tell our candidates don’t come on too strong, find a quiet, friendly spot off a back road and we will likely vote for you. In-your-face controversy is out, but experience is in. No experience, no trust, no vote. It’s all good. Here in the valley, our physical comfort zone, our neighbors are free and friendly.

There are other comfort zones. We call them academic communities. I have finally come to the conclusion that it would be a mistake for such communities, usually independent cities, to be swallowed up by the surrounding county. Blurring city lines makes no sense. If you doubt this, examine the election results for any recent year, including this November. And while you’re at it, check out the Alleghany County/City of Covington merger vote. Both jurisdictions have decided to allow their citizens to continue their separate ways. Isn’t federalism wonderful? We can live as we vote. Yes, but it’s expensive.

What about the newly elected? Allow me to answer this way: Does putting wine from old bottles change its taste?

Did you notice that the Democratic Party in the Rockbridge area has proven once again how to play the great game of politics? Simple — forget local endorsements. When will Republicans learn that backing candidates falls under the Law of Unintended Consequences?

And how about the man who lost the governorship by a landslide (20 percentage points) keeping his state senate seat by another landslide, winning 64-36. His GOP opponent can now go back to helping clients decipher the tax code. Welcome home, Creigh.

Besides personalities, you might be wondering how the issues fared in the past election? What issues?

One last point on the importance of voting. Two hundred and twenty-four voters in the 17th Senate District determined the legislative agenda for over 8 million Virginians. The GOP now controls both houses of Virginia’s General Assembly.

Column by David Reynolds

David Reynolds: Shop and vote local

Haven’t you had enough of that pollution coming out of an old river swamp that we call Washington, D.C.? I have. That’s why I moved to the Valley. One size doesn’t fit the entire country. It’s too big.

So we carved it up by inventing federalism – state and local governments. Now we don’t always have to listen to Washington. Thank James Madison, the Sage of Montpelier, for allowing us the freedom to occasionally turn off DC.

You know what the polls say. Congress is near the bottom of the barrel in approval ratings. And the president is in a free fall, down to 41 percent.

Here’s my answer to the polls. Ignore them! Shop for local candidates. You may not agree, but most are as good as our tomatoes and corn are in August.

But selecting them is slightly different. There is only one shopping day for candidates. It is this Tuesday, Nov. 8. Be there! And be early to select the best buys.

In politics there is a theory that voters may not select the best person, but they weed out the worst candidates. When you vote on Tuesday you will do some weeding. And not buy bad tomatoes.

Here’s a ripe choice. For state senate, Creigh Deeds is still our man. Until the GOP gets serious about selecting a candidate for the 25th District there will be no contest. Creigh did not make governor because (a) his timing was terrible and (b) his national party let him down. (Translation: He ran the worst possible campaign a year after Mr. Obama was elected.)

There are many choices for board of supervisors and city council seats. Some believe in regional cooperation. Others pay lip service. Separate the two. But the real problem in local politics is that too many council members and supervisors keep going off in different directions. And therefore little gets accomplished. If not political parties, what’s wrong with slates, such as a smart-growth slate to determine what the land will look like for our children? Parties and slates would help to wean us away from the beauty contests we now conduct. And maybe more good ideas would surface. Is that so wild a dream?

Speaking of dreams, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said,”Our lives begin to end the day we remain silent about the things that matter.” What happens in the Valley of Virginia matters to me. And I don’t wish to die.

Do yourself a favor. Follow Nike as well as Madison, “Just do it.” Vote on Tuesday! Or this being a free country, you are free to continue to do what we do all too well – complain.

Column by David Reynolds