As one of the elected officers of the Sheridan County Republican Party, I usually get asked by folks who I think they should vote for during the election season. Sometimes this is a difficult question to answer because there often are several good primary candidates for one office. At other times this is fairly easy.
Normally, rather than answering directly, I suggest they just consider what I call the "cluster phenomenon." Yes, I know, this is me shirking my responsibilities and letting others do the work. However, if you actually do have questions about who to vote for, it is often easier to let others do the heavy lifting.
What is the Cluster Phenomenon? You may notice as you drive around Sheridan County that there are clusters of campaign signs in various yards. This is how you determine who to vote for.
For instance, last week, like an invasive weed, Sheridan was infested with signs promoting Heyneman for County Commissioner. Mr. Heyneman was a registered and active Democrat until he decided to run against Mark Jennings a couple of years ago. Overnight, he became a "republican" so he could run in the primary. Fortunately, Mark Jennings prevailed in that primary. This year, John Heyneman is back, running for Commissioner against Mark's daughter, Holly Jennings. A favorite of the big-money establishment, Heyneman signs are visible on properties owned by Kim Love, the Scott family, Tom Ringley (the Chuck Schumer of Sheridan), and Bruce Burns.
Now the cluster phenomenon comes into play. Other big-money establishment candidates are typically clustered with Heyneman: Crago, Gail Symons, and Lonnie Wright. If you've paid any attention to Barry Crago, you know he is a tool of the establishment, favoring an ever increasing and expensive state government and high taxes. He can say what he wants, but his record speaks the opposite. Gail Symons, while claiming to be a republican, has a track record of promoting planks from the Democratic Party platform and has been a party to lawsuits against the Republican Party on more than one occasion.
On the flip side, you'll find clusters of signs promoting Mark Jennings (100% conservative rating), Ken Pendergraft (100% conservative rating), Tom Kelly (a brilliant conservative mind), Laurie Bratten (brilliant too), Mark Jones (2nd Amendment advocate par excellence), Holly Jennings (the lone voice of reason on the Board of County Commissioners), and Mike Arzy (man of the people). Definitely not big-money establishment and definitely not found on properties owned by the people who profit from big government.
So, if you like high property taxes, big government, increased regulations, special interest groups, and ever-reducing freedoms, pick your candidates from the Crago, Heyneman, Symons, Lonnie Wright cluster.
If you, like me, prefer small government, lower taxes, individual freedom and responsibility, and grassroots citizen involvement, choose the true Republican cluster with Mark Jennings, Ken Pendergraft, Tom Kelly, Laurie Bratten, Holly Jennings, Mark Jones, and Mike Arzy. It's that easy.
You're welcome.
Comentários