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COLUMN: Local government affects our daily lives more than you know

Andy Pierucci, columnist

Let’s face it: Traffic lights and sidewalk maintenance aren’t as interesting as immigration reform or national security policy. State, city and county election campaigns just aren’t as “sexy” as national races, but they are definitely more important and can have a greater impact on our lives.

We need to be active participants in local government.

Most of us follow the presidential elections every four years. We know who is running and often support a specific candidate. How many of you know who our state representative or state senator are? Rep. Ed Redd represents House District 4, which encompasses Logan, and Sen. Lyle Hillyard represents Senate District 25, which encompasses most of Cache County. How about the mayor of Logan or the Cache County executive? Craig Petersen is the mayor and Lynn Lemon our county executive. You would be surprised to know what positions we vote for. The sheriff is an elected official, and so is the county treasurer, county assessor and countless other individuals.

Lemon is retiring after almost 20 years in office. So far, three candidates have entered the race to replace him. Boyd Pugmire, the former mayor of Clarkston, manager at ATK and former Cache County GOP chair, is one of those candidates. Mark Maughan, a sheriff’s deputy, and Craig Buttars, a former state representative, are the other two candidates running for the open seat. The results of this election will have a lasting impact on our lives, so pay attention and get involved.

A well-rounded college education means stepping out of the classroom and making a positive difference in your community. I have absolutely loved my time at USU because I have become involved in the community.

Did you know Logan has a Neighborhood Council? We meet the third Thursday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at Logan City Hall. Come on out, we’d love to have you. You can get involved in community building projects and assist in bringing real change to the city that is our home for at least four years.

I recognize many of us are not planning on staying in Cache County forever, but while we are here, we should make a positive impact on the community. Educate yourself on local elections. Go to your neighborhood caucus meeting tonight. The Republican caucus meetings for all Logan precincts will be at the Mt. Logan Middle School at 7 p.m. You can register to vote at the door. All you need to bring is a driver’s license.

If you have ideas for community improvement, make them known. If you are frustrated with things like parking or road maintenance, make your voice heard. If you dislike an elected official, you can help someone else get elected or you could run for office.

Our local elected officials affect our daily lives far more than the president or Congress. So instead of complaining about the way things are, get up and get involved.

Andy is a senior majoring in political science. He is currently the vice president of USU Pi Sigma Alpha, a member of the GRC, the Secretary of the Utah Federation of College Republicans and president of USU College Republicans.