Don’t Give Up On Government - Don’t Give Up Your Voice

I don’t know about you, but the November 3rd Election coming up is causing me great anxiety. The climate of politics today is worse than it has ever been. Friends and family, neighbors and work colleagues are divided, arguing not over policies but the rhetoric tied to party politics. There has never been a President in our history who has impassioned and alienated the world and each other more than President Trump has in the last four years. While this dramatic political culture has inspired many people to vote, there is another forgotten group out there. A group I met in 2018 at their doors.

One of the general rules about door knocking is that you have to keep moving. Don’t spend too much time on any one door if you can help it because there are just too many doors to hit. It’s a relentless pace that grinds you down under the sweltering heat of summer, the dampness of rain, and the chill of the first snow fall. Keep moving. But there were people I consistently broke this rule for and spent a lot of time with. They were the ones who told me they didn’t plan to vote.

The theme that arose as I passionately argued in their doorways was this: My vote doesn’t count because politicians are all the same. I get it. But what people can often forget is the importance of our local races. Local government is about your own backyard. Our school boards, city and county government have more influence in your everyday life than the President.

Your school board members create student policies that allow—or don’t allow—conversations about gender equality and sexual consent. Your city council members decide the pace of economic development and funding of your local police force. Your county commissioners help our neighbors get food and medical assistance and job training and set the ethical standards that oversee a staff of 2,000. Your vote absolutely matters in shaping your community.

Like any profession, we think politics can attract a certain “kind” of person: aggressive, egotistic, overly ambitious and calculating. “Good” people never run for office. They’d get eaten alive. Or lose. These beliefs have not only held me back in the past, they are plain wrong. I have never fit the classic mold of politician and yet here I am. Serving with a heart for community service, a hunger to learn and the desire to build a legacy for our county. And I hope to inspire others who share my brand of politics to run for office and break the standard mold too.

I have been in the minority in my views since month two on the job when I advocated for a fair and open interview process to hire our County Administrator rather than directly appoint our Board Chair *. My first resolution in 2020 to allow 10 minutes for the public to speak at board meetings was voted down**. As the first person of color on this board representing the most diverse district in the county, I work hard to forward diversity and inclusion.

I also don’t agree with the current dichotomy of fiscal responsibility and lack of vision. We can and should keep taxes low and be mindful of our debt, but we also need to ensure we support our staff financially (which includes funding our Attorney and Sheriff’s Office) while additionally shaping a vision for our community. Imagine our region without a National Sports Center or a TPC Golf Course. These are investments of our past. What are we building for our future? We can do more than keep the lights on while still being responsible with our taxpayer dollars. It’s not an either/or, it’s an and.

I understand the allure to be cynical about government during these diabolical times. Cynicism or choosing to stay safe is tempting for the strongest of us. But I write this with heartfelt sincerity, your voice is important. It has the power to change the world from “all politicians are the same” to a world of diverse leadership who can embrace possibility and not just the financial bottom line.

Don’t give up or surrender to the path with least resistance. Don’t give up your voice. Vote.

Read my previous blog about politics HERE.

Read my next blog about politics HERE.

As of today, over 80,000 absentee ballots have been issued by the Anoka County Elections office. Over 40,000 absentee ballots have been returned/accepted by our office. We will continue to count ballots 7 days beyond election day (through November 10th) for ballots that are post marked on November 3rd. You can mail in an absentee ballot or vote in-person at your local City Hall, or the Anoka County Government Center.

Early voting is happening now. Details can be found HERE.

If you prefer to vote in person on election day, you can find your polling place HERE. See more details on our Anoka County Elections page.

GET TO KNOW THE CANDIDATES:

Candidate info at North Metro TV

Candidate interviews on North Metro TV

Anoka County Commissioner Forum on MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce (all candidates participated)

ABC League of Women Voters Candidate Forum

*The original Administrator Appointment Board Meeting, held on March 26th 2019 (at minute 50:10). On May 14th (58:25) the board appoints our Board Chair as the next Administrator in a 4-2 vote.

**The StarTribune article covering the board rejection of my public commentary proposal.

Mandy Meisner is the Anoka County Commissioner for District 4 (Fridley, Columbia Heights, Hilltop and part of Spring Lake Park). District 4 is the most diverse district in Anoka County. You can connect with Mandy on Facebook.

This blog is not an official communication of Anoka County, and does not represent the opinion of anyone else on the Anoka County Board, Anoka County staff, or any other body Commissioner Meisner serves on.