Local Elections

All right, so I'm a political junkie. It's in my genes, if there is any such thing as a political gene. In the course of moving, I came across a little leather case I hadn't seen for years. Inside was a document with a picture of Abraham Lincoln one side, and these words. "Republican National Convention, Philadelphia, June, 1940. Good all sessions. Alternate. Arena. Entrance: Section 4, Row E, Seat O." Also, the case included a metal card extending the courtesy of the city of Philadelphia to Mrs. L.E. Wise. That was my mother sitting in Seat O, and although it was the wrong party I am so proud of her.

And I have never lost the excitement that comes as an election approaches. Incidentally, I voted for Franklin Roosevelt.

It almost seems like two elections this year. The national one is so distinct from the local one. But that's what makes our country work -- at least when it's working right. The county commissioner is as important to the system as the president, except for the size of the area. All of them serve at the will of you and me. Well, in theory.

And that is why it is so important that our state legislators be concerned and knowledgeable about the political functioning of the system and the welfare of all their constituents, and not just their personal social and religious values.

Shari Bjorklund is running for the State Legislature for the second time. It is important to question her reasons. At the Club 20 meeting recently she made them quite clear. When asked by her opponent, Bernie Buescher, why she supported Rep. Ted Harvey for Speaker of the House, she replied, "My position is to support an ideologically Conservative. That generally is my position and it has nothing to do with Western Slope issues. It has everything to do with conservative ideology, whether that's tax issues or social issues."

Last Sunday in the Daily Sentinel there was a strip across the front page with the pictures of the candidates for state and national office. Each had been asked a question about the renewable energy amendment and each had committed himself or herself to a response -- except Shari Bjorklund. Also, she is one of only two candidates who did not respond in the League of Women Voters' Voter Guide. Who is Shari Bjorklund? Well, she does know how to run a dirty campaign.

It pains me to urge people to vote against a woman, but I am doing just that.

Fortunately, her opponent is a candidate we could recommend no matter who he was running against. Bernie Buescher is a native of Grand Junction and a successful local businessman. He is a moderate Democrat with wide bi-partisan support. He is familiar with and has been involved in the issues facing both Mesa County and Colorado and is a natural diplomat. He and his wife Mary Beth were named Joint Citizens of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce this year He is running a clean campaign and he will answer any question openly and honestly. He has a highly informative web site at www.buescher.org.

My political Republcan mother believed in voting a straight party ticket. I disagreed with her on that -- rather loudly sometimes. The state of Colorado is in a major financial mess now. Regardless of party labels we need legislators who are informed and willing to unite and meet the challenges. We need uniters, not dividers in the Legislature.