OUR TURN: Voter apathy nothing to be proud of at all
Just how well do the residents of Marble Falls know their own city?
That was a question recently put to an area civic group by City Manager Ralph Hendricks. He produced a list of questions and asked for answers from his appreciative listeners.
The audience found the exercise somewhat whimsical, but also eye-opening.
While most of the factoids painted an interesting portrait of progress of Marble Falls, one in particular caught the audience’s notice — and prompted some concern.
The city has an estimated 7,200 residents. Of that number, 3,452 are registered voters.
Now guess how many voted in the last municipal election.
Most of them? Half? A quarter?
None of the above, and that’s what’s troubling.
The number of residents who cast a ballot in May 2009 is 645.
Yes, that’s right. Only 645 out of 3,452 registered voters cast a ballot during an election which decided a new mayor, new council members and a tax freeze for seniors and the disabled.
That is no magic number. That is a tragic number.
Voter apathy has reached an appalling level in Marble Falls.
People just don’t care. But they do like to complain.
They don’t have the right; not if they didn’t vote.
In other words, about 19 percent of the electorate decided the future for the rest of the city’s inhabitants.
Those who protest about the “same old faces” time and again showing up in city government have no one to blame but themselves if they don’t bother to cast a ballot. Your vote is your tool to change Marble Falls’ destiny by electing new candidates or keeping the ones you like, as well as approving new laws and taxes.
Residents who care about the city’s future should not only cast a ballot during the upcoming municipal elections May 8, but they should bring their neighbors, too. And t heir relatives. And anyone else they know is registered to vote.
Good government will not flourish unless there is widespread participation. And, there are plenty of interesting issues on the ballot, including three council seats up for grabs and another tax break.
And if you don’t care to vote, then don’t complain later when City Council does something you don’t like.
Now, as promised, our own bit of whimsy, courtesy of the city manager. See if you know the answers:
- Largest employer in Marble Falls? The Marble Falls Independent School District with 638 employees.
- Total square miles of Marble Falls? 11.81
- Miles of paved streets? 56
- Average number of potholes filled each week? 80
- Number of street lights? 448
- Daily average water consumption? 1.7 million gallons
- Average water storage capacity? 1.88 million gallons (no wonder there are watering restrictions in the summer)
- Miles of water mains? 55
- Number of fire hydrants? 544 (and they cost about $2,500 apiece to replace)
- Number of sewer connections? 2,484
- Number of public parks? 10
- Combined acreage of the parks? 68
Keep this list handy and impress friends and family alike at sporting events, church socials, dinners and even the cocktail hour.
But if you really want to be impressive, go vote May 8.
The River Cities Daily Tribune editorial board includes Dan Alvey, Amber Alvey Weems, Thomas Edwards, Chris Porter and Daniel Clifton.