Letter from the editor

Election time is upon us again

You'll have to forgive me, but after last year I am well and truly tired of elections.

With the slate of primary, local and — you may have heard — general elections last year, it felt like the Eagle staff gave over half our lives to interviewing candidates on everything from energy policy to school bonds.

So when the realization struck that there is another round of contests in just a few weeks, I nearly broke into a cold sweat.

Luckily, this time the task isn't quite so daunting.

In today's paper you will find brief profiles of the candidates for the two vacant positions on the Bigfork Fire Department Board of Trustees. Next week, we'll have profiles on the two candidates vying for a seat on the Bigfork School Board.

With all of the unending drama surrounding our national politicians, it's sometimes easy to overlook what goes on closer to home. One of democracy's little secrets, however, is that it is the often incredibly dull local government that has the greatest effect on our day to day lives.

Clearly, this valley is full of politically active people; just look at the throngs that have assembled at the "tea parties' over the last few weeks.

And though some are losing sleep over the bailouts and stimulus money, the immediate futures of the organizations that prevent your home from burning to the ground and educate your children have a much larger potential for local impact.

It's hard to get people to realize this, though. No one on Fox News or CNBC is screaming about the dastardly deeds of the Bigfork Fire Department Board of Trustees. In fact, I don't believe there's anyone in Bigfork not directly associated with the fire department who could name them all, if they even knew of their existence.

Take it from someone who spends a few nights a week at public meetings: This democracy thing is dull. A four-hour school board meeting will fry your brain and leave you longing for the rule of an iron-fisted tyrant.

But this stuff, boring as it may be, is the best thing going. And all the people running for these positions — God bless them — will spend hundreds, if not thousands, of hours during their three-year terms working for the community. For free.

So take a moment to educate yourself and then fill out the ballot or drive down to the polls on May 5 and cast your vote.

—Alex Strickland