Voting for Change In a One-Party State

[billroper]

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I walked the short distance to my polling place today in suburban Cook County, Illinois, being careful not to step in the goose grease in the playground at the school. There was no line to vote. I was voter 161. They were expecting me, as my wife, daisy_knotwise had gone in a few minutes earlier while I was watching the kids at home.

It was a singularly depressing ballot. I only knew the name of the Republican candidate for Congress, because marsgov had mentioned it on his LJ a few days before. I read the Chicago Tribune daily Monday through Friday and haven't seen this race mentioned once, which should give you an idea of exactly how well gerrymandered my district is. The Republicans didn't even bother to put up a candidate in one of our state races, nor in any of the judicial races save one.

I did, as was my wont, vote to turn out all the judges on the judicial retention ballot.

And I voted for a new Constitutional Convention here in Illinois. Apparently, we elect the representatives to the convention. I've talked with Gretchen about running for the position, unlikely as I'd be to get elected.

But who knows? Stranger things have happened.

Comments

[shsilver.livejournal.com]

I spoke to the Lake County Coroner earlier this year. I discovered that he has a very good sense of humor and does a lot more than you would think, partly trying to ensure that he doesn't meet people in a professional capacity, things like driver safety.

He told me that the number one question he is asked is: "Why do we elect the coroner?" His response...he doesn't know either.

[johnridley.livejournal.com]

That is odd. I was personally wondering why Sheriff, Treasurer, and Drain Commissioner are party tickets. Why the heck would anyone care if the drain commissioner is a Republican or Democrat? I can't imagine how party affiliation would affect how any of those people did their jobs.

[tollermom]

You have a Drain Commissioner?

How... entertaining. *blink*

What does a Drain Commissioner do?

[johnridley.livejournal.com]

Manages all the drainage systems in the county. In rural counties, the drainage systems involve hundreds of miles of drains to which tile systems that are largely privately owned and installed on private farms connect. This is where excess ground water goes.
They require a fair amount of maintenance, the flow has to be monitored and in some cases directed, new development may require large new infrastructure, etc.

Next to roads, it's probably the single largest capital expense for a county. In some farming counties, it's probably MORE expensive than roads.

No matter where you live, you have someone who does this job. In metro areas, it's probably managed by the city, but in our area, there's no city that takes up the majority of the county, many smaller cities are involved, so county-wide management is needed. It's a commission, therefore its head is a commissioner.

In what way is this "entertaining?"

[tigertoy.livejournal.com]

In Illinois, Recorder of Deeds is an elected position.

Things that seem silly today presumbly become elected positions because at some time in history there was a controversy about it that got enough politically connected people involved to DO SOMETHING (the mayor appointed his drunk brother in law dog catcher, and he really screwed the pooch (sorry about that... ok not really) -- we don't want that to happen again, so let's elect the dog catcher!), and once it's established as an elected position, it's really hard to change it. Political parties like it because it gives them more power, and ordinary people generally don't care who the coroner, drain commissioner, or recorder of deeds is unless they're totally incompetent, and even then they seldom blame the party that nominated them.

[kizoku42.livejournal.com]

In much of Michigan the land would be swamp without good drains. Whether or not it should be elective is open to debate but it's an important job.

[pheltzer.livejournal.com]

When I was living in Miami I noticed that Dog Catcher was in fact an elected position. Sure they called it Animal Control Commissioner or some such, but it was an elected and politicized position.

[gorgeousgary]

You mean there's at least one place in this great nation where someone could literally find themselves not even able to be elected to Dog Catcher?

Tee-hee! 8-)