Parties belong to the voters, but they must exercise right

Dear editor:

To follow up on Kelly's editorial on voter apathy, I'd like to add an important message. I, too, am critical of apathy, and even more critical of organizations whose functions are impaired or damaged as a result of that apathy.

Political subdivisions and organizations like the Elmore County Republican Party require more than just voters voting. They require involved, informed voters who actively participate in the organization's functions.

When organizations get complacent due to voter apathy, they get sloppy and eventually wither. Original thought ceases. Meaningful debate ceases.

The opportunity then arises for one or two influential people to take control. Appointees replace elected committeemen, whose elections go uncontested for years. After time, the status quo seems like a birthright to those who, due to voter apathy, find, or have made themselves out to be, in control of an organization left unattended by apathetic voters.

And so, when voters do get informed, when they do get involved, and when they choose to exercise not just their right, but their duty, to be involved and run for office, those in control are threatened. Like someone who finds a valuable item, only to be disappointed when the rightful owner shows up to claim it, they are threatened with the loss of something they could never be sure was theirs to begin with.

The Elmore County Republican Party does not belong to Barry Peterson, or to the State Central Committee. Nor does it belong to Jace Prow, or to me, or to the other precinct committeemen. It belongs to the Republican voters of Elmore County, period. The Republican voters of Elmore County will decide in this election who ought to be the committeemen, and those committeemen will help the Republican voters of Elmore County decide what the policies and goals of our party will be, rather than simply following the whims and wishes of a manipulative shadow leadership.

The Republican voters of Elmore county will have a rare opportunity in this May 20 Primary election to elect open minded, successful, thinking Republicans to the Elmore County Central committee, committeemen who will actually represent the Republican voters of our county and who will enable the Party to chart a course of success for us and our Republican elected officials.

Geoff Schroeder

Editor's note: Schroeder and Jace Prow are facing each other in the May primary for Mountain Home Precinct #4 committeeman of the Elmore County Republican Party.

Seven of the 18 GOP committeeman positions are challenged in this year's election, a relatively high number compared to most years.

The other competitive races are: Judith Lords v. Ronald Sherer for the Atlanta precinct; Dewey Crane v. Monty White for the Glenns Ferry precinct; Megan Blanksam v. Christy Zito for the Hammett precinct; John Barrutia v. Mark Bryant for Mountain Home #2 precinct; Larry Heinen v. Rich Sykes for Mountain Home #6 precinct; Larry Jewett v. Arlie Shaw for Mountain Home #7 precinct; former state senator Tim Corder v. state party chairman Barry Peterson for Mountain Home #8 precinct, and Bud Corbus v. Christopher Pentico for Mountain Home #9.

On the Democratic side, only five people are running for the 18 committeemen seats, and they are all unopposed.

We're allowing each candidate only one letter to the editor prior to the primary.

Readers are reminded that the May 7 issue is the deadline for letters to the editor either praising or criticizing candidates.