Are We Better Off Now? Examining the Impact of Partisan Influence on Local Elections in Front Royal

History repeats itself.

Ronald Reagan asked a famous question: “Are you better now than you were 4 years ago?”

The wisdom of our founding state and local fathers incorporated the value of nonpartisan elections into state laws and local charters. They intended to elect quality candidates that would focus on local issues and not party dogma (which includes our school boards) in building the quality of life in our individual communities. They felt that at this level, partisan politics would only repress the communities’ ability to make good community decisions.

With the increased activity and influence of party-endorsed candidates in our nonpartisan elections, are we better now in Front Royal than we were 2 years ago?

Over the last several years, we have witnessed many decisions made by the Town Council that were made more for the self-interest of the Council than for our citizens. Most of the Town Council elected individuals were endorsed and financially supported by the local party in these nonpartisan elections. Every day, we become aware of more situations that confirm this type of activity, which shows the lack of action addressing many of the important issues facing our community of these candidates, past and present.

I hope that the people in our community will choose the most qualified people to run for these nonpartisan positions.  Again, some great non-endorsed individuals are running, like Tom Eshelman (Mayor), Glen Wood, and Walt Mabe (Council ), who will make the necessary changes moving forward.

I have always been told I am a glass-half-full guy, but my expectations from our community change are very low.

Again, I hope I will be proved wrong.

I want everybody to make a list and share with other citizens some of the questionable decisions made by this current Council over the last 2 years.

It’s quite enlightening but sad that we keep electing the same individuals and expect different outcomes.

We have so much potential in our community. Still, with the current group of elected officials having a very limited vision of what we could become, it will continue to be difficult.

Michael Graham
Front Royal, VA

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