The Wisconsin primary election to elect a Democratic candidate who will oppose President George Bush in the presidential election this November will occur next Tuesday, 17 February. This primary will grant Wisconsin residents an incredibly auspicious opportunity to make a difference in the upcoming presidential election–and, consequently, in the future of our country–for the first time in a long time. Although Democratic hopeful, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, leads the polls and primaries thus far, he is by no means guaranteed to be the final Democratic Presidential Candidate. Both North Carolina Senator John Edwards and General Wesley Clark closely trail him. Vermont Governor Howard Dean has slowly slipped in the primaries, but he has vehemently declared that Wisconsin will be the state that brings him back into the election, or “his own personal Waterloo.” As a Wisconsin voter, you have the incredible opportunity to effect this important decision: you are able to decide which candidate should face President Bush in November. All you have to do is vote.
In addition to the Presidential primary, next Tuesday marks Appleton’s mayoral primary. This primary will determine the top two mayoral candidates who will oppose one another in the general election on April 6th. The mayor of Appleton is extremely important to the Lawrence community as he has a major hand in facilitating the city’s relationship with Lawrence. Each candidate has a different stance concerning issues that affect Lawrence in relation to the community surrounding it. The choices made by the mayor directly affect Lawrence students. We encourage you to familiarize yourselves with these candidates as they are so incredibly important in future decisions affecting Lawrence. (You can do so by reviewing the Post Crescent’s coverage of these candidates.)
Arguably, the most important right you have as a United States citizen is the right to vote. This right ensures that your views are represented by politicians who will ultimately decide the future direction of both the country and city in which you live. This Tuesday, you will have the opportunity to exercise this powerful right.
In order to vote in the city of Appleton, you must be registered. If you are not already registered, you can still vote on the day of elections by bringing photo identification (e.g. a driver’s license) and proof of residency (e.g. a telephone bill with your current address) to the polls. Vans will be available to students who do not have transportation to polling places in the Career Center Circle from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on 17 February. If you have any further questions concerning your polling place or how you can register in Appleton, please call Andy York at extension 7109. Get out and make a difference. Please vote on Tuesday!
Andy York
President, Lawrence University College Democrats
Kim Dunlap
Vice-Chair, Lawrence University College Republicans