By now, you’ve packed away your Dracula cape, inflatable T-Rex onesie and ruby-red slippers after a successful Halloween. No doubt, as you pick through the last of your stash of candy, you’re already making plans and saving recipes for Thanksgiving.
But in your haste to get to turkey day, don’t forget what happens Tuesday — Election Day!
Okay, so it’s not as exciting as Halloween or Thanksgiving, but what it lacks in feasts and candy, Election Day is one of the few days a year that you get to actively participate in democracy.
If you’re in Centralia, you have an opportunity to vote for two contested city council races — for a government body that provides vital services like police, water, power and sewer, street paving and more. This is your chance to elect a person who you trust to manage those essential services — and your tax dollars that pay for them. The cities of Chehalis, Morton, Mossyrock, Napavine, Pe Ell, Toledo and Winlock also have council positions on the ballot.
The Port of Centralia also has a contested race. That board is tasked with bringing in businesses to help provide jobs and a boost to our local economy. You have a say in who runs that organization, but only if you turn in your ballot.
School districts across the county have a multitude of positions on Tuesday’s ballot — these boards set policy and budgets, determine how much your kids’ teachers get paid and have a huge role in the future of the area’s education.
Two fire districts are also asking voters to approve levies to help them continue to fight fires and respond to medical emergencies.
If you haven’t registered to vote, or if you’ve misplaced your ballot, it’s not too late. Go to elections.lewiscountywa.gov for more information about how to register in person up until election day, or on how to get a new ballot if you’ve lost yours. Election day might not include candy (it probably should) or turkey, but it shouldn’t be forgotten in the mix of fall traditions.
Daylight Savings
Speaking of fall traditions, what’s going on with daylight saving time?
While the state Legislature voted earlier this year to have year-round daylight saving time —meaning we wouldn’t have to set our clocks back this fall — and Gov. Jay Inslee signed the bill into law, Congress must act to approve the law before it goes into effect.
Well, Congress has been kind of busy lately (see page Main 13 for more on that).
So until Congress takes action on our law, Washington’s daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, so remember to set your clocks back and savor that extra hour of sleep.
