Kimberly McKerchie, one of the members of the Record-Eagle's undecided-voter panel, said she cares more about this presidential election than any other race in which she's voted.
We probably all do. It's exciting.
This next "leader of the free world" (I can hear my ex-pat friends sniffing with derision -- "How arrogant!") will be responsible for making some pretty important decisions.
So ... why don't we get excited and vote in the elections that hit us close to home?
In the August primary, Grand Traverse County elected a new sheriff. No Democrats had filed to run for sheriff, so the August election decided the winner.
Of the 58,000 people 18 and older who live in Grand Traverse County, about 13,000 voted in the primary -- less than 25 percent.
How many times a day do you see a Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Department employee? How many times in a year do you talk to one? Those cops will be hired, fired and managed by the sheriff himself, a guy we elected in August. Well, a quarter of us elected him.
Have you recycled lately? Driven on a county road? Gone to the library or used Commission on Aging services? The boards that keep these services running are appointed by the Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners. About 10,000 people voted in those races in August -- about 17 percent of us.
What if a mall went up in your neighborhood, where there used to be woods or fields? Would you even know how that happened? It began with who you voted for on your township board.
A township board appoints the planners who decide the character of your neighborhoods. They're the ones who may control if a store or a pig farm moves in.
In Garfield Township, 2,571 people voted in a race to elect a new township supervisor in August. Because no Democrats had filed to run, the August vote decided who will be in charge of the region's most-populated township -- more residents than Traverse City itself. About 17 percent of Garfield Township residents had a say in that decision.
State officials are giddy when half of Michigan's voters turn out for an election. Local officials are pleased when the numbers are around 25 percent. Most of our elected officials are paid for by us, the taxpayers, but it often seems we don't care enough to actually decide who we hire.
A record number of voters are expected at the polls Tuesday for this exciting choice, even though only a quarter of us showed up in August. Happily, you can still make a difference this year; the presidential race isn't the only game in town. Have a say in your village, township, school and county elections. The Record-Eagle's Web site has all the current election stories in one handy spot at www.record-eagle.com/2008election.
I know it's hard to get excited about local races that don't feature splashy commercials, attack ads, yard signs, buttons and 24-hour coverage. But we need to remember: Think globally and vote locally.
Jodee Taylor can be reached at jtaylor@record-eagle.com.
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