Tuesday, March 25, 2008

How and when do I vote?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 2nd. In the primary, the parties chose their candidates, and I was fortunate to be one of three Republicans to make it onto the ballot in the fall. There are three at-large County Council seats, with the three Republican candidates facing up to three Democrats. The deadline to register to vote in the 2008 election is October 6th. If you are not registered, you can register at any Bureau of Motor Vehicles branch or the County Clerk's Office in the Boone County Courthouse. You can also pick up a mail-in registration form at any library or print one off the Secretary of State's website. The polls will be open 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. You can find your polling place and answers to most other voting questions here. If you can't make the polls on November 2nd, absentee voting starts October 6th and continues through October 27th. An absentee ballot can be requested here.

About the County Council

The County Council approves the county budget, sets the tax rate, borrows money, makes appropriations of funds and is responsible for county employee salaries, among other things. Essentially, the County Commissioners are the executive branch of county government, setting most policies and making decisions on issues as they arise, while the County Council is more like the legislative branch, approving those decisions (or not) and finding a way to pay for them.The Council has seven members, one representing each of four geographic districts and three at-large members. (I am one of the at-large seats, so wherever you live in Boone County, I am your representative.) Members serve four-year terms. Every voter is represented by a majority of the Council members: one member from the voter's district, plus three at-large members.

About Me

My photo
Lebanon, IN, United States
I am a life-long resident of Boone County and a 1989 graduate of Western Boone High School. My wife Rylin and I, along with our children Matthew and Laura, live southwest of Lebanon on the old family dairy farm that has been in my family nearly 70 years. I am a graduate of Purdue University, and for the past 20+ years have taught history, government and English at Zionsville High School. I have a Master's degree in American Studies from Purdue and am working -- slowly -- toward a Master of Public Affairs degree at IUPUI. Before being elected to the County Council in 2008, I served six years on the Jackson Township Board, having first been elected in 2002. I also serve as the Council's representative on the board of the Boone County Economic Development Corporation.