What about dumping the runoffs?

Opinion

July 16, 2012

What about dumping the runoffs?

The Daily Southerner John H. Walker The Daily Southerner Mon Jul 16, 2012, 03:33 PM EDT

TARBORO — Our Lab mix, Bridget, has caught the eye of a couple of folks as we’ve walker her up and down Main Street.

No, it’s not because of her sleek coat or (not so) slim body ... it is the fact when Bridget does her business, there’s no need to clean up after her.

During the period of time I was here working and Stephanie was still in Louisiana, she taught Bridget to do No. 2 in a bag.

Yep. In a bag. We’ve had driver’s stop and persons walking toward us stop and watch, shaking their heads when we get back into our walk.

Truth is, there’s a little bit of training needed on the human end, as well, because the bag has to be in the right place or you’ll miss and get to play poop collector anyway.

Bridget? She seems to be pretty oblivious to the bag, but she’s always got an eye open for those pesky squirrels!

• • •

Speaking of bags, that’s what we out to do with runoff elections! What a great waste of time and money.

Here is Edgecombe County, there had been 34 votes cast in person and five mail ballots requested through the end of last week.

On Tuesday, officials are project about an 8 percent voter turnout — and the all-time record high is 19 percent.

While runoffs are not mandatory, the second-place finisher can request one if the winner doesn’t get at least 40 percent of the vote.

In Edgecombe County, 65 people will handle election day duties as all 21 precincts will be open for Republicans to cast ballots in four races and Democrats to cast ballots in a single race.

Those five represent the statewide races, although there are 14 or so other races that are regional in nature.

Are the runoffs an exercise in the practice of democracy or are they an exercise in futility? Do they provide a true chance for the No. 2 finisher to pull off the win or are they a massaging of the ego and a positioning of No. 2 for a run the next time around?

There are a couple of trains of thought, with one being to lower the 40 percent figure to 30 or 35.

Why not simply say the person who gets the most votes wins? So what if you finished second and you say your voters just didn’t turn out?

What about requiring No. 2 — if they want a runoff — to post a cash bond to offset election costs? You win and there’s no fee ... but if you are so sure you can move from No. 2 to No. 1, you ought to be willing to put some money on the line.

• • •

While at Second Saturday, we witnessed a first-hand example of tourism generating revenue when seven folks from Raleigh arrived to tour the Blount-Bridgers House and grounds.

Based on comments we overheard, they had no idea what was going on, but they were looking around and spotting Aaron Carpenter’s vegetable and Karen Johnson’s jams, jellies and preserves and listening to the music.

Tourism is a legitimate generator of jobs, taxes and money and we should do any and every thing we can to promote it and foster its growth.

The Colonial Theatre is a great example of potential. It is similar to The Columbia Theatre in downtown Hammond, La. After years of neglect, it became a community project and is now a center for the arts.

And to those naysayers, arts is not a four-letter word ... it can be anything visual or musical or written or spoken.

Imagine a fully functioning Colonial ... perhaps an art walk every month or so ... music by the fountain ... brown-bag lunches with live music?

All of those things can happen. Yes, grants are harder to come by, but how many people “connected” in the Colonial? How many dollars could they put in the kitty?

(John H. Walker is editor/publisher of The Daily Southerner and can be reached at 823-3106.)

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Opinion

We Salute...
Each Friday, The Daily Southerner will recognize individuals, groups and businesses in Edgecombe County who have gone “above and beyond” in their effort to make this a better place to work, play and raise a family.

May 17, 2013
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With much thanks and love …
The past month has been interesting, to say the least.
As I grew up, my first cousins — a group of us that have simply been referred to as “The Cousins” would often joke that when we died, we knew it would be as the result of a heart attack. That’s the history of the Walker family and my Dad and his seven brothers and sisters, as heir parents had, died of heart-related issues.
But along the way, something else happened, Cousins Joyce, Dudley, Don, Kenneth, Howard and Jimmy all died after a courageous battle with cancer.
Dudley and Don and Jimmy and Howard were brothers. But we were much more than cousins. We were a true Southern family in that no matter how far away we might move, we always wound up back at Granny Walker’s.

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May 1, 2013
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Princeville, the oldest African American community in North America, through the years has had many hurdles and set backs since it was established.Yet with its resilience, it has some how, through some miracles has always bounced back to stay the course of normalcy as best as it could envision. Yet, we must be ever so reminded that our earthly job of being responsible and accountable for and to ourselves shall never cease, until our journey is finished.
This beckoning call for volunteers is being directed to all the local residents who are concerned and aware of the deplorable existing condition of the cemetery on N.C. Highway 111.
This appeal is specifically for churches, community organizations, and all concerned able body men, women and young folks to respond. The purpose of the tentative meeting is to organize a special committee of volunteers within the community, to assumed the responsibilities and duties of maintaining the cemetery. This is where our deceased loved ones are laid to rest and one day for sure some or most of us, if it’s God's will, shall lay rest in this cemetery. It's about pride and cultural respect and decency that we the living owe our beloved ones who's gone over.
Please call or respond to the contact information below and we'll get in touch and arrange a special meeting to start this project. It's no secret that it's an eyesore and a reflection of what we collectively think of ourselves as well as about of our deceased. This mindset can change. With the weather changing, the grass will be growing. Once again we'll be faced with the cosmetic upkeep. There are some simple tasks we as concerned residents can come together as a concerned unit/group to maintain the appearance of our cemetery.
Calling all concerned men and women and children residing in historic Princeville.
Those interested please call (252) 823-3740

Milton Bullock
Native of Princeville

April 17, 2013
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Dear Editor,
Thursday, May 2, is the National Day of Prayer all over the United States. I would like to challenge every minister of the gospel to bring a group from his or her church and meet us on the Town Square across from Edgecombe County Courthouse at 11:45 p.m. Thursday for prayer and unity.
After looking through the phonebook and newspaper church page, there appears to be more than 300 churches in Edgecombe County of multiple faiths. Yet each year we barely have 25 people respond to the advertising for National Day of Prayer.
Prayer has no respective person and does not practice segregation, yet the church segregates itself every Sunday morning. As a blood bought believer in Jesus Christ, I ask all who believes that Jesus was born of virgin, died on the cross and rose on the third day to meet me with an expressive tongue of prayer for our local, state and national leaders. Are you up for the challenge.

Viola Harris

April 17, 2013
We Salute...
Each Friday, The Daily Southerner will recognize individuals, groups and businesses in Edgecombe County who have gone “above and beyond” in their effort to make this a better place to work, play and raise a family.

April 12, 2013
We Salute...
• ELLIS “BUDDY” HOOKS, on being named to receive the BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN AWARD.
Hooks will be officially recognized on May 14.
• ALL PARTICIPANTS in the 76th EASTERN CAROLINA 4-H LIVESTOCK SHOW, held this week at the East Carolina Agriculture and Educational Center.
• Members of the TARBORO HIGH BOOSTERS CLUB, employees of the TOWN OF TARBORO, members of the GOLDEN K KIWANIS CLUB and all others involved in the successul staging of the 20th TARBORO EASTER CLASSIC BASEBALL TOURNAMENT, Despite chilly, wet weather on Thursday, today’s weather is forecast to improve to the point of being a perfect day at the ballpark.
• Edgecombe County businesses recognized for their efforts to promote a safe work place, including Keihin Carolina System Technology, Inc., Air System Components, ABB, Inc., Piedmont Natural Gas, Tarboro Resource Center and QVC, Rocky Mount , Edgecombe-Martin County Electric Membership Corp., Hillshire Brands-Sara Lee Bakery and N.C. Department of Commerce, Division of Workforce Solutions, Tarboro Branch Office.
• LT. FLEMING THOMPSON, a 2005graduate of Tarboro High School, on being named the United States Air Force’s 23rd Bomb Squadron NAVIGATOR OF THE YEAR.

• • •

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April 3, 2013
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To the Editor:
In response to the column by Bob Harper, “Voter ID causing a great flap”, I have a few thoughts to share. This is the first time in my memory that Mr. Harper has written about something being provided free to citizens by the government (IDs for those without one) without stating that nothing is free, and complaining that the cost is taken out his taxes. So enfranchising voters must surely be one cause he is passionate about.

March 27, 2013
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