Local Voting: Make or Break Our Indie/Local Businesses

On a regular basis this week, I've seen on my facebook wall some form of the following statement.  "OK, so I've been following this whole national election thing, but I haven't had time to research local candidates.  Someone tell me who the best choices are."

I'm going to let that sink in for a second.

Are you horrified yet?  As in, '"The Shining"-this-could-ruin-my-life' type horrified yet?

You should be.

There is no denying that the results of the national election will have an impact on all business, especially small, local indie businesses. But at this point, there are relatively few undecideds- and to be honest, one or two or ten votes are probably not going to make a difference for the office of the President.

But state, county, and city offices?  They're absolutely vital to what happens next.

Those elections are the ones that impact the daily operations of a business owner the most.  If you've not researched your candidates that will make the laws that affect zoning for your business, street and sidewalk maintenance, parking laws and enforcement, local taxes, schools, fire protection, police protection, sanitation, water, trees, and parks, you put yourself in the position of having no control over your livelihood and success. These offices make or break a successful community, and if you don't like the recent outcomes of local decisions, you have no one to blame but yourself if you had no clue who you voted for.  I truly don't have words strong enough to explain how horrified and disappointed I am when I hear that people haven't bothered to do more than read yard signs when they make their picks on election day.

Here's the good news- there's still time to change the future.

If you've not voted yet- early or absentee- or if it's still early enough in the day on November 6th, you can link here to see who the candidates are in Floyd and Clark counties, and some basic information (if they bothered to answer) about what they stand for.  If you're in Louisville, you can go here and type in your address and it will give you your candidates.

Business owners and community members, do NOT give your power away in this election simply because you've been lazy.  Educate yourself, and VOTE!