RI Elections

[theyellowhobbit]

My mom sent me a link to the Providence Journal which has information about the election, and what the ballot will be.

http://www.projo.com/cgi-bin/include.pl/extra/election/2008/general/town_barrington.htm

So I know how I'm voting for most of it, but I have no clue about town council and school committee. Do I vote straight party line? Is there a difference in the different candidates and their positions? Do I know anything about them?

Part of me says that maybe I should skip voting in those races, since I no longer live in Barrington and I have no intention of moving back and if I have kids they will not be going to Barrington public schools.

The other part of me thinks it's important to think about the people who are in the school system, and how funding can make a difference in terms of having different extracurricular programs, paying teachers a decent wage, etc.

But I don't even know which people would do that and which people would not.

Though the school budget actually gets voted on every year in a town meeting which is open to everyone, and every registered person in Barrington gets to vote in it. I went once when I was in high school since I was curious about it, and there are a few people who are characters and do amusing things.

I guess I'll keep searching the internets until I get an answer.

Comments

[pastwatcher]

Smartvoter.org might have *some* information on their views. Party solidarity is good for getting things done, but I am more of an issue voter myself.

[sparkleycricket.livejournal.com]

I'd say if you can't find their profiles online, leave that part of the ballot blank... When it comes to very very local issues, like school district, it honestly seems like a person's individual personality, experience, and ideas are more important than national party averages.