It's Election Day, Troy -- And You Have Decisions to Make!
Contested races abound to make this Primary Election Day like none other in recent memory
Today is Primary Election Day here in Troy and throughout the State of Ohio. Many of us have local offices and tax levies to cast a decision upon; all of us have a chance to vote on State Issue 2, a measure that provides necessary funding for infrastructure projects in our counties and communities, projects that couldn’t get started without state funding.
Voting in this primary is not just a civic duty but a direct means for all of us to shape the future of our hometown. Here in Troy, with multiple contested races for city council and important local issues on the ballot, the stakes are high for all who call Troy home. In many respects, this election has given our community a renewed sense of engagement. This new engagament has played a crucial role in encouraging new candidates to run and in informing the electorate. Tell me, when was the last time this city had eight (!) candidates on a primary election ballot? It’s been a long while since this level of interest has existed.
The importance of voting in Troy’s primary cannot be overstated. Local elections determine who will represent the community’s interests on city council, where decisions are made about development, fiscal management, public safety, and quality of life. Unlike national elections, where individual votes can feel diluted, municipal contests are often decided by a handful of ballots. This election is no exception; turnout is expected to be low. This means that every vote truly counts, and the outcome can directly affect the daily lives of Troy residents.
In Troy, the city council plays an essential role in decision-making, working alongside the city administration to address the needs of our friends and neighbors. However, the structure of local government and the nature of Ohio’s primary system can sometimes limit voter engagement and the responsiveness of elected officials. This makes it even more vital for citizens to participate in primaries, where the direction of city leadership is often determined. Primary elections, for many races, is the decisive contest, especially when nearly all candidates are from the same party.
It is this level of engagement that makes me particularly proud of this publication. There can be little doubt that this digital platform has transformed the local political landscape by not only providing a space for candidates to share their visions, values, and policy priorities directly with voters, but giving an unfiltered and raw look at all these candidates trying to earn our collective votes.
This election cycle, this publication offered structured Q&A formats and opportunities for candidates to speak freely about their aspirations for Troy. This publication put forward unedited letters of support for candidates from supporters, without the drawback of word counts. There is no doubt, I have strong opinions about candidates and tax issues, and I have shared some of those on other platforms. But, with this publication, I have tried to be the honest broker providing clarity and focus to an election that is often short supply.
This publication is grateful for the Troy Chamber of Commerce’s video interviews of candidates, which this publication talked about in-depth for each candidate. This openness has encouraged a broader and more diverse field of candidates to step forward, knowing they have a venue to communicate authentically with the electorate.
And honestly, this publication’s impact extends beyond candidate promotion. By informing residents about the mechanics of local government, the stakes of the upcoming election, and the nuances of each candidate’s platform, the platform has elevated the level of public discourse. For example, one candidate has a campaign platform based around this support of balanced budgets. Yet, this candidate fails to tell voters that by state law, the city’s budget must be balanced every year.
Here at Civic Capacity, our readers are not just passive consumers of information; they are encouraged to engage, comment, and share, creating a ripple effect of civic participation throughout the community. This dynamic has helped bridge the gap between government and the governed, countering the risks posed by bureaucratic inertia and limited accountability. In other words, we have worked to make changes, and that work has paid off.
The benefits of such civic engagement are profound. When more candidates run for office and more voters are informed and motivated to participate, the result is a government that better reflects our community’s needs and values. This, in turn, helps engender trust in local government and reinforces democratic principles at City Hall. Our platform demonstrates how digital media can invigorate local democracy, making it more accessible, transparent, and responsive.
This publication recently celebrated a milestone of having 2,000 subscribers. Meaning each day, 2,000 of our friends and neighbors are becoming more informed, more involved and more inspired to take an active role in their community. For each of our 2,000 readers, we are grateful. We are grateful for your readership, your insights and your willingness to share this publication with your friends and neighbors.
But most importantly, today we are grateful for those candidates that are standing for election, especially those that are challenging incumbents. Without candidates, we would have no contested elections.
Today is a day to not only go out and vote, but it’s really a day to celebrate the fact that we have contested races and our votes will have real meaning for our community. Now, get out there and vote!
Share Your Thoughts!
Please take a moment and participate in our daily poll question and of course, our paid subscribers are more than welcome to leave their ideas and insights in the comment thread! If you have comments, this publication will be more than happy to publish your editorial, simply send us your thoughts in an email to pinnaclestrategiesltd@gmail.com and your ideas will be shared with our community!
Tell Us How You Feel About Your Community!
Our reader survey for this month is looking for responses! Feel free to share your thoughts and ideas on your hometown! You can access the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PF6SPPN
Check out our New YouTube Channel!
Our goal with the Civic Capacity YouTube Channel is to be a centralized location where residents can watch videos of local government meetings in action and also provide comments and insights.
The Troy Chamber of Commerce recently released videos of candidates for office in the May Primary Election. With the chamber’s permission, we have placed those videos on our YouTube channel!
You can check out the channel here!
Thank you to our New Media Partners!
Recently, many of our stories has been showing up on the local news website, www.mymiamicounty.com. We are grateful for the good folks for sharing our work with their audience and we would encourage our readers to check them out at their website!
Our publication would also like to recognize the good work being done at www.piquanewsnow.com. Piqua News Now is a new web-based news and information site for the Miami County area, with a specific focus on Piqua!
You Can Help Support This Work!
Our readers and subscribers have been asking for a new way to support the work being done here at Civic Capacity! Some of our readers do not like the idea of having to sign up for another subscription service. Some of our subscribers occasionally want to give more support through a one-time transaction.
Civic Capacity is partnering with “Buy Me A Coffee” to give our readers, subscribers and friends an opportunity to give one-time support to Civic Capacity. Personally, I don’t like coffee, but I will never turn down a nice iced tea. If you feel compelled to support this effort, just click the button below. In other words, this is an online tip jar.
Also, thanks for reading today’s Civic Capacity Newsletter! Please feel free to share this information with your friends and neighbors.
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