/Unitedbank
/Eedition

Runoff results: Baker wins! Turnout 10.5%

Posted by
Walter Geiger
in Top Stories
Tuesday, August 21. 2012
Comments (10)
Van Baker has won the Republican nomination for the District 3 post on the Lamar County commisison

Baker will face Democrat Aaron Brown in November. District 3 incumbent Jimmy Hearn did not seek reelection.

Please login or register to read the rest of this story.
Bookmark and Share
Trackbacks
Trackback specific URI for this entry
No Trackbacks
Comments
Display comments as (Linear | Threaded)
#1 Julia Heidbrink on 08/21/12 at 07:49 PM
Congratulations to Van Baker. We wish him well in the next stage of the election, and we will support his efforts from here.

Julia
#2 Robert Heiney on 08/21/12 at 09:34 PM
Julia Heidbrink should also be congratulated for running an excellent and focused campaign. She presented well on all the issues and spoke with clarity and confidence.

Julia - don't give up. Try again.
#3 Robert Heiney on 08/21/12 at 09:44 PM
It's shameful that only 10.5% of the eligible voters turned out to vote. You non-voters are the reason why America is in the shape it's in today. You don't care? Why should politicians care either?
#4 John Doe on 08/22/12 at 07:51 AM
Only 10 percent voted because Government is a joke. They abuse the public's trust, overspend, and have no accountability, and are completely out of touch. If I'm wrong why does Congress have a 7 percent approval rating ? The working man has been taxed enough, everybody wants a free ride at the working mans expense. People have lost all confidence and trust in the way Government operates.
#4.1 Julia Heidbrink on 08/22/12 at 02:53 PM
It's sad that I have to disagree with you... the reason that the government is a joke is because we have let it happen. All politicians are not uninformed and out of touch with no accountability. Some are, but we keep electing them....lol. So, whose problem is that? When we do get good new people to run, the lose because we the people are careless, or lazy, or don't find out enough to make a good decision.

In this campaign you had 2 people who had never run for office before in a good, clean campaign. Either of us would have been good on the Commission, so this is nothing to do with any candidate.

I know now 5 people who lost elections this year, by close or reasonable margins. Every one of them would have been a benefit to the state or community they tried to serve.

So, Mr. John Doe, don't you blame that on the people who did all the work. You blame that on yourself and others who did not get up to date either.

Julia
#5 Martha Windle on 08/22/12 at 09:38 AM
Congratulations, Van Baker!
#6 WI John Galt on 08/22/12 at 01:30 PM
Maybe the 10.5% voter turn out was about right!!! Lets assume that 10.5% knew the issues, voted and chose Mr. Baker. Further lets assume the remaining 90% did not care or did not know the issues. If true, it best they did not vote!!

Mr Heiney assigns non-voters as responsible for the reason America is in the shape it's in today!!! Maybe so, however I respectfully disagree. I believe America problems are caused by voters who DO NOT KNOW THE ISSUES or care about the issues. To often they vote for the candidate who will continue to provide the handouts!!!

In my humble opinion IGNORANCE is America's number one problem. This ignorance is on display every election, ie, people voting who have no idea of the issues. They vote for the handouts!

After all its only in America that a person can pay no federal income taxes and yet receive a check from the government as tax refund!!!

This is allowed because we allow uninformed citizens to vote themselves representatives who will continue the handouts.

No wonder we are facing our 4th consecutive year of ONE TRILLION dollar deficits.

What a country!!!!
#6.1 Robert Heiney on 08/23/12 at 02:57 PM
Hey - you've got a point there, but too many people are lazy and can't be bothered. And that's when you get a government that serves a privileged group that lives off others.
#7 John Doe on 08/22/12 at 10:22 PM
Julia,
My comment was in regards to 10% voter turnout, and Congress having a 7% approval rating.
I cannot speak for anyone running for a first term, or being elected, they obviously would have no track record, or history. What I can talk about is the low voting, and approval ratings, they speak for themselves. Gov't is inept. If you can't meet a budget, then it's time to trim the fat, don't burden the people. For the taxes I pay, we do not get any services near that in return. Look around, Lamar County looks like one big landfill along the roads, were lucky to have our road mowed twice a year, and maybe three times if we call to remind them. No offense to you, but that's how people feel, it is what it is.
#7.1 Julia Heidbrink on 08/24/12 at 12:04 PM
Hi John Doe,

It is what it is, true... but it does NOT have to be that way. As long as we don't vote, or don't put up good candidates, we lose. It is that simple.

I understand what you are saying but any of us that wants our county, state or nation any better has to work for it. I know how people feel... but to sit home and complain is to do nothing.

I certainly am not taking offense to what you are saying... I understand it, and I was one of those only a few years ago. But I have stopped being one of the complainers and have decided to be involved. So I am. How much good will it do for a few to speak up? Maybe not a lot... but what if that number grows to many... what if we finally ask for and continue asking and demanding accountability? I can tell you from my experience that a few dedicated people can and do make things better for all those who sit home and don't even know it is happening...but the numbers of active people must grow.

Our commissioners and council members are not the enemy, but they do need to know what we think so they can make good decisions based on the wants and needs (mostly needs, cuz all our wants just get taxes raised) of the people in their districts.

I personally go to 5+ meetings a month most of the time, and lead one. Some of them are commission meetings and such, and some of them are grassroots meetings with like-minded people who want Lamar County to be the best it can be. What if a few people turned into 50 or even 100 people, every month, getting active. That is still a very small number but it will make a difference....

It is what it is because we let it be so...

Julia
Only registered users may comment on stories. Please login or register to post comments. Your browser must support cookies.
The author does not allow comments to this entry
Copyright © 2008-2011 The Herald-Gazette