Now, it's our turn

We have a confession. This editorial originally lamented the lack of Burke candidates in vital municipal elections this November. Until Friday, the final day of the filing period, many seats had no candidates, and the ones that did had no competition. The two-week window when residents can file their paperwork to run for office was going about as slow as a lazy summer afternoon.

Then someone turned up the heat. A line of candidates greeted Burke County’s director of elections, Kenny Rhyne, on Friday morning when he opened the doors for business.

Suddenly, the entire election landscape changed. Valdese voters in Ward 1 and Ward 3 have two candidates from which to choose, and two candidates for its mayoral race. Glen Alpine residents offered seven candidates for its three alderman slots, and two candidates for the mayor’s position. Drexel has five candidates for its three alderman seats, and Connelly Springs has six candidates vying for the three open alderman seats.

Mayoral candidates in Glen Alpine, Connelly Springs, Rhodhiss, and Drexel are running unopposed.

Competitive races encourage voter turnout and civic engagement. Voters don’t truly have a choice when only one name is on the ballot. Uncontested candidates are less motivated to campaign and to explain their positions on critical issues facing their communities. Residents become less invested in their elected leaders and their communities. No one really wins in these types of races.

Collectively, the candidates are mostly the typical mix of incumbents and first-time contenders. We say “mostly” because there is one significant exception: A husband and wife are running, in Glen Alpine, hoping to get two of three available alderman seats.

In a town governed by a five-member board, diversity of perspective and independence of thought are essential. A married couple holding two of those seats could undermine both.

We are not casting aspersions on either individual, and we applaud anyone willing to step into the political ring. However, even with good intentions, spouses naturally share priorities, communication habits, and loyalties that could narrow debate and compromise checks and balances.

We question whether the potential of a voting bloc is good for any community and encourage residents to consider the pros and cons of such a board makeup.

The list of candidates also shows that few, if any, people under the age of 40 registered as candidates in any Burke community. Like we have said before, more young leaders mean more balanced representation. It means policies that take into account the needs of families with young children, of workers entering the job market, of first-time homebuyers. It builds trust across generations, too, as younger and older leaders learn from each other.

Now that the slate is set, focus should now turn to turnout. Too often, only a small percentage of residents choose who will represent them on the elected board. In the last off-year election, 2023, less than 14% of registered voters statewide cast a ballot. We did a little better than that in Burke County, though the numbers were not cause for celebration. Only Valdese broke the 30% mark in turnout, while the other municipalities couldn’t muster 20%.

Mark these dates on your calendar. Early voting is Oct. 16 through Nov. 1. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4. The candidates did their part. It’s our turn.