La Plata County continued several electoral trends this year, becoming more solidly Democratic in its choices of elected officials while remaining resistant to countywide tax increases. Whether those results are good, of course, depends on one’s point of view.
What we should all be able to agree upon, however, is that La Plata County residents can take pride in actively participating in our democracy. With almost 32,000 ballots cast, voter turnout among active voters was 85 percent. That is almost 60 percent of the county’s total population. (Active voters are those who were mailed a ballot or who went to the clerk’s office to vote in person. There are almost 45,000 county residents eligible to vote, so even using that number more than 70 percent voted.)
Statewide turnout was also good, the fifth highest in the nation.
Turnout matters. Being free, self-governing people has little meaning if we do not participate. Our right to vote has been defended, fought for and expanded by every generation of Americans, but it requires us to exercise the franchise. That La Plata County voters overwhelmingly did so is gratifying.
How the results are viewed is a matter of perspective. It is clear, though, that La Plata County is increasingly Democratic. In only one race, for State Board of Education, did the Republican prevail. With that exception county voters backed the Democrat in every race.
Both Bayfield and District 9-R voters approved ballot issues to boost funding for schools. That generosity, however, did not extend to countywide tax increases for either roads and bridges or the proposed new airport terminal.
Having now said “no” to roads and bridges twice, voters can expect not to be asked about that again any time soon. Likewise, with the airport having been defeated by a margin of 23 percentage points, its backers have already begun looking at other ways to fund an upgrade.
Elections are how Americans make decisions, set priorities and pay for the projects and services they want. And that is what county voters have done. That so many participated serves to clarify and validate their choices.
