Civics Lesson in Voting. Your Vote DOES Count. Maybe Your Candidate will Effect Some Meaningful Contribution if Elected, Rather than Just Being a Mouthpiece for the System.

Missouri had elections on Tuesday and several of the races turned out to be whoppers.  The differences were razor thin in determining winners and losers.  The lesson learned from April 2, 2012: Every Vote IS important.  Take a look at some of these contests:

DIRECTOR KIRKWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT R-7
          (Vote for )  2
              (WITH 29 OF 29  COUNTED)
           ANDY STEWART  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     3,401   31.90
           HAMID R. HAMRAH  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .       413    3.87
           SCOTT ANDERSON.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     3,414   32.02
           SARA KING  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     3,405   31.94
           WRITE-IN.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        29     .27

 (Note: Hamrah withdrew shortly after filing)   

DIRECTOR LINDBERGH SCHOOLS
          (Vote for )  2
              (WITH 46 OF 46  COUNTED)
           JAMES GOSS .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     1,000   11.44
           KAREN SCHUSTER.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     2,806   32.11
           KATE HOLLOWAY .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     2,460   28.15
           GEORGE REZABEK.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     2,445   27.98
           WRITE-IN.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        28     .32 

DIRECTOR NORMANDY SCHOOL DISTRICT
          (Vote for )  2
              (WITH 50 OF 50  COUNTED)
           DRYVER HENDERSON .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     1,179   30.46
           JOYCE R. McRATH  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     1,186   30.64
           SHEILA WILLIAMS  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     1,484   38.34
           WRITE-IN.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        22     .57

TRUSTEE JUNIOR COLLEGE SUBDISTRICT #3
          (UNEXPIRED TERM)
          (Vote for )  1
              (WITH 104 OF 104  COUNTED)
           BOB BURNS  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     6,209   49.61
           JOAN H. McGIVNEY .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     6,233   49.80
           WRITE-IN.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .        74     .59

More exciting election results from St. Louis County can be found here.

Students of civics (now I know I say that tongue in cheek since students rarely learn how government works these days) and jaded registered voters should look at these results and hopefully come away with the conclusion that indeed, "my vote DOES count."   Out of 10,220 votes cast for three candidates, 13 votes separated those candidates.  Barring any recounts affecting the difference, that is an amazing result.

So when it's a "cold, rainy, hot, you can find something else better to do kind of day"...and it happens to be Election Day, remember these races and get out and vote.  Your candidate might need your vote to put him/her over that edge.   Maybe your candidate will work hard to restore authentic local control to your school district, rather than just existing as a participant in the only roles available currently to school board members:

• The hiring of employees
• The refusal to renew an employment contract for an administrator and hiring a replacement without posting the job, creating ire and unanswered questions of district residents
• Maintaining/expanding school properties

Maybe these lessons on voting and exactly how school districts operate need to be imparted to the 86 % of registered voters who didn't bother to show up and make their voices heard in this election.  If you didn't like the results, the manner in which your school district operates and didn't bother to vote...you have no reason to complain:

SUMMARY REPORT        GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION       UNOFFICIAL FINAL
RUN DATE:04/04/12     ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MISSOURI
RUN TIME:03:46 PM     TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2012

                                                       VOTES PERCENT

           PRECINCTS COUNTED (OF 817).  .  .  .  .       817  100.00
           REGISTERED VOTERS - TOTAL .  .  .  .  .   652,857
           BALLOTS CAST - TOTAL.  .  .  .  .  .  .    90,828
           VOTER TURNOUT - TOTAL  .  .  .  .  .  .             13.91