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Elections Are An Opportunity To Put Your Stamp On Government

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 6, 2008

It's difficult to understand the widespread voter apathy toward municipal elections in Pasco County. Perhaps it's because some cities have elections every year, so anticipation and excitement is difficult to muster, unlike presidential elections every four years.

If anything, you'd think voters in Pasco's six towns and cities would be more eager to vote than those in the unincorporated county, for one simple reason: Every year they have to pay an additional tax bill for municipal services.

There's no better way to put your stamp on government than voting, which electorates in New Port Richey, Port Richey, Dade City and Zephyrhills have the opportunity to do Tuesday. And it's an opportunity that shouldn't be missed.

Unfortunately, far more people in Pasco municipalities shrug off voting than those who see it as the important civic responsibility that it is. A review of voter turnout over the past 10 years reveals appallingly low numbers that should alarm local officials, who don't seem very interested in banding together to reverse them.

Beginning with the 1998 municipal elections, not once has voter turnout hit 50 percent. The small town of St. Leo has come closest, with just under 49 percent in 2006. At the time, St. Leo had 297 registered voters, and 145 cast ballots that year.

In fact, Pasco's smallest municipalities do the best job of going to the polls. But in the county's biggest cities - New Port Richey, Zephyrhills and Dade City - voter turnout, overall, has been a major disappointment.

For example, New Port Richey has bested 15 percent just once the past 10 city elections - and that was a whopping 15.08 percent in 2004. The lowest of this low was 8.39 percent in 1999, which is embarrassing considering the city is the county's biggest, with more than 15,000 people and more than 8,500 registered voters.

Zephyrhills is worse: Voter turnout in 2003 was 7.52 percent; 8.37 percent in 2005; 7.28 percent in 2006; and 9.7 percent last year. During the 10-year period the city's highest turnout was 19.82 percent, in 2000.

And Dade City, in four elections over this same period, topped 20 percent once - 20.5 percent in 2000.

It's not that people aren't registered to vote; they are. For instance, when Zephyrhills had its 7.52 percent turnout five years ago, the city had 6,512 registered voters. Only 490 bothered to vote. But at least those 490 cared.

For Tuesday, the question is how many voters will care enough to take a few minutes to go to the polls. Look at it this way: How would you feel if you had no say in who sits on your council or commission and decides the amount of taxes you pay and how the money is spent?

By voting you do have a say, and it's an opportunity that should not be ignored.

Recommendations

Here at the candidates endorsed by the Tribune Editorial Board for the April 8 municipal elections:

Dade City Commission: Curtis A. Beebe, Group Three; Steve Van Gorden, Group Four; Mike Agnello, Group Five.

Zephyrhills City Council: Jodi Wilkeson.

New Port Richey City Council: Tom Finn, mayor; Judy DeBella Thomas, council.

Keyword, Opinion, to find the editorials from the March 30 Pasco Tribune, or go to the links on The Pasco Tribune homepage.

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