House Republican Press Release

September 12, 2006

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Your (Non-Partisan) Election Guide! Part 1

By State Representative John J. Ryan

A few years ago, I realized that I was devoting more and more time to increasingly generic explanations of how government works and what sort of factors one might consider in weighing the competing campaign claims of candidates. In addition, I have always found that many voters actually have a very dim notion of who serves in which elective position, or what legislative district that they vote in, who is "up" for election in one year and who is not, etc.

And I must admit, I am horrified to know not only how many do not even bother to vote, but (worse ?) those who vote for various candidates without the slightest notion of who they are or what they stand for.  Since this year is atypical in that there were actually highly charged primaries that have seemingly raised the interest level of many, I thought it might make sense to offer these comments when there are still weeks to go before Election Day. I hope that you can keep that famous advertising slogan of the clothing store in mind, because it is even more apt in this instance: An educated consumer is our best customer!

And if you think there is some subtle slant here toward a particular individual as candidate, you are very wrong. The principals (like those of how to make a good soufflé, or pick a fine cabernet sauvignon) do not change over the years!

• IT REALLY IS IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW -- I guess it is not necessary to point this out since you are actually reading this column, but actually voting at your local polling place once a year takes relatively little time and trouble considering the many 1,000s of man hours (not to mention billions of your tax dollars spent) by assorted layers of government! What we take for granted, hundreds of millions of people in the world are still hoping they might be allowed to do someday.

• TAKE SOME TIME TO GET INFORMED, DO SOME HOMEWORK -- would you buy that new SUV, let your child pick their college choice, or would you invest tens of thousands of $ in a mutual fund, based solely on what you hear in a 30 second TV spot or a mailer in your mailbox ? Can't you do at least the same amount of research and determine how candidate X actually voted on issues  as opposed to what they say ), or what actual experience candidate Y has for this position?

• I KNOW SOMEBODY MUST SEND IN $ TO "AMAZING TV OFFERS", BUT -- most of us grow up and realize that if it sounds too good to be true, then....!  If candidate Z professes to have (all by themselves, of course...) cured the common cold and many of the other ills that afflict Western civilization, you can hopefully discern that those folks who have modest and believable goals and accomplishments are more worthy of your support. Conversely....

• THE PERFECT CANDIDATE/ELECTED OFFICIAL HAS NOT BEEN BORN YET -- just like the best pitcher or opera singer or American novelist, please have reasonable expectations, because every one is likely to have some human flaw, or some viewpoint that you are uncertain of; if Mr. X or Ms. Y look like some one that makes sense to you 75% of the time, isn't that a good thing? By the way do you agree with your spouse/significant other 100% of the time? Well..... (Warning ! Anyone who e-mails back to the Editor that this writer is "the perfect elected official" will not be getting a free subscription to this fine publication. )

            And there is much, much more that we can cover, so let's continue this next time.......

Please feel free to contact me with your concerns and issues. As your state representative, it is my job, and my priority to represent you and to make sure that your needs and concerns are addressed at the capitol.  You can write to me at Room 4200, Legislative Office Building, Hartford, CT 06106-1591, send me e-mail at John.Ryan@housegop.ct.gov  or call my office toll-free at 1-800-842-1423.