Lincoln Andrews: Your Question

At Candidates' Night, Lincoln Andrews rose to ask 2 questions.
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The first question pertained to how many times each candidate had attended town meetings.
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Peter Kenney raised the issue regarding a Cape newspaper asking the same question (article excerpts and link below for any who care to read it in its entirety).

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It would seem that some of us form an opinion of what's important that's set in stone and totally unyielding. Some might question if this is the correct measure of qualification.

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Some of us have watched the whining of self-proclaimed Town Fathers who offer NO solutions, yet criticize others. Then those same Town Fathers condemn others for the very negativity for which they are guilty.

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How many times have we heard the whine about poor town meeting attendance, poor voter participation?

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Lincoln, what have YOU personally done to change attendance besides whining?

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A number of us, mostly anonymous, have distributed voter registration forms.

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A number of us have knocked on our neighbors' doors, explained WHY it's important to educate ourselves, attend town meeting, ask questions and above all else, REGISTER TO VOTE.

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Two posters on nemasket have commented that someone took the time to explain the WHY.

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That voters are commenting makes me so proud of what others have taken the time to accomplish, but it needs to continue -- like a chain letter. Each person who has suddenly figured that out needs to pass it along so that the numbers continue to grow.

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At the 11/5 STM, I was surrounded with newbies who asked for explanations, several of whom rose to the microphone. Did you notice that a quorum was achieved? A number of us called voters to remind them of the event that WAS NOT widely publicized by the Town.

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Lincoln, you did what?

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Voters call me to ask for explanations of the basic function of town government which the town is not providing. You will note that I suggested on nemasket the need for a non-partisan PAC that would be intended to EDUCATE AND INFORM. about the basics of town government, what all those terms used at town meeting mean and so on.

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It was pretty curious that one of those TOWN FATHERS (who happens to be female) immediately responded 'it won't work.'

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Your ideas?

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Other than criticizing me anonymously, I'm not hearing any ideas from you.
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The voter registration deadline is 10 days before the Special Town Meeting and 20 days before the Annual Town Meeting scheduled for May 13th. I have voter registration forms and the street listing should be available from the Town Clerk. Can we count on you to participate? Send a comment and I'll contact you if you're interested.

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Public Disservice

... since we are talking about the past record of individual voters, implying some connection between the number of times they have voted and their worthiness to run for or hold public office...

I think we should develop a local affairs test and see how many people on Main Street in Hyannis can pass it.

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Happily, the world of the blog is expanding. It is no longer necessary to have one's mind formed by schools of journalism and one's views dictated by Daddy Warbucks, right or left. Unhappily, anyone can blog.

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I'll let everyone know when we will be administering the local affairs knowledge exam, or AKE. Right about now _____ is probably developing a severe head AKE.