I don’t have to tell you that the intense focus on state and national races in this election has reached a fever pitch. Results at the top of the ticket are important to the direction our state and federal governments take, which will affect all of us. However, SEMCOG, as an association of local governments, is more focused on what happens in Southeast Michigan local elections.
Our townships, counties, and schools are in the midst of elections to determine who will govern them. While candidates for these races may be found farther down the ballot, local units of government often have a greater impact on our daily lives. Whether it’s educating our children, ensuring public safety, or providing for parks and recreation, we rely on the services of local governments.
As the election season reaches its conclusion, the focus shifts from campaigning to the more important task of actually governing. We look forward to working with those who are elected and re-elected to local office. At SEMCOG, we are governed by a collection of our region’s elected officials and recognize that the strength of this region is only as great as the effectiveness of our leaders.
No matter what issues are most important to you, I encourage you to exercise your right to vote and to give the whole ballot its due. While former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill was right that all politics is local, we must not forget that everything local also has a regional impact.
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