In most Maine communities, this is the season for town meetings. Some towns have already held theirs, and others are scheduled in the next few weeks. In addition to acting on a number of important issues, a key part of this annual tradition is the election of officers who will represent voters and oversee the operation of their respective towns  for the coming year.

It’s not uncommon  in some of Maine’s smaller towns  to see several officers re-elected year after year. Why? Because they have earned the respect of voters who trust their judgment and feel confident that they have the best interests of the community at heart.Thankfully, most area towns are still small enough so folks know their officers personally. They see them regularly, are often on a first-name basis, and if they have a question or opinion, they don’t hesitate to share their thoughts.

We have no idea how fortunate we are to enjoy this type of relationship with our elected officials. It’s   practically non-existent in much of the country. In most instances, in state and national elections, you don’t have the advantage of really knowing the person you’re electing, no matter how often you watch them on TV or read about them in newspapers. Unfortunately, candidates aren’t always what they seem.Even an occasional personal encounter isn’t necessarily a true test of how they’ll pan out if elected. It can take years to uncover their true color, and to feel confident they share your ideals, philosophies, goals and dreams.

That’s why we should never take our voting rights for granted. In a small community, we need to be selective and cast our ballot for individuals capable of making the best decisions for our community. Rural Maine is changing, in some ways for the better, in other ways, not so much.  Complacency can easily get us changes we don’t want.

Make sure your vote counts this year and every year. It’s your call.