With Wisconsin's presidential primary now almost two months old, and the presidential election over seven months away, it can be easy to forget there's another election April 1.
While there are no presidential candidates on the ballot, there's plenty of reason for Green County and Lafayette County residents to vote.
There is one statewide election, for state Supreme Court, where Justice Louis Butler and Michael Gableman have waged bitter, sometimes personal campaigns against each other. Meanwhile, there's a statewide vote on a constitutional amendment that would ban the "Frankenstein veto" powers Wisconsin's governor has to stitch sentences and words together to rewrite state budget provisions and laws.
All 31 Green County Board seats are up for election; seven are contested. In two of those races, District 3 and District 14, the incumbent chose not to run. That means at least two new supervisors will join the board.
The Times will run profiles of candidates in the contested races beginning Friday.
Residents of two area school districts have another big reason to make their voices heard. The Monticello and Pecatonica school districts have referendums on the ballot, asking voters to allow them to exceed state-imposed revenue caps.
In Monticello, the district seeks to exceed the revenue limit by $305,000 for the 2008-2009 school year, $390,000 for the 2009-2010 school year and by $430,000 for the 2010-2011 through 2013-2014 school years.
The Pecatonica school district is asking to exceed the revenue limit by $175,000 in 2008-2009 and an additional $175,000, beginning in 2009-2010, for recurring expenses. Beginning in 2009-2010, the district would be authorized to exceed the revenue limit by $350,000 for as long as it sees a need.
As important as schools are to the identity of small communities such as Monticello, Blanchardville and Hollandale, it's important for district residents to help shape the future of their districts.
There are contested races going on elsewhere in the county:
• Town of New Glarus, third supervisor.
• Town of New Glarus, fourth supervisor.
• Four people for three Albany village trustee spots.
• Four people for three Monticello village trustee spots.
• Four people for two spots on the Argyle school board.
• Six people for three spots on the Juda school board.
• Four people for three spots on the New Glarus school board.
Regardless of what races you will vote on, and regardless of whether it's contested or not, don't forget to vote April 1. It would be nice to see April Fools Day also be High Voter Turnout Day.
While there are no presidential candidates on the ballot, there's plenty of reason for Green County and Lafayette County residents to vote.
There is one statewide election, for state Supreme Court, where Justice Louis Butler and Michael Gableman have waged bitter, sometimes personal campaigns against each other. Meanwhile, there's a statewide vote on a constitutional amendment that would ban the "Frankenstein veto" powers Wisconsin's governor has to stitch sentences and words together to rewrite state budget provisions and laws.
All 31 Green County Board seats are up for election; seven are contested. In two of those races, District 3 and District 14, the incumbent chose not to run. That means at least two new supervisors will join the board.
The Times will run profiles of candidates in the contested races beginning Friday.
Residents of two area school districts have another big reason to make their voices heard. The Monticello and Pecatonica school districts have referendums on the ballot, asking voters to allow them to exceed state-imposed revenue caps.
In Monticello, the district seeks to exceed the revenue limit by $305,000 for the 2008-2009 school year, $390,000 for the 2009-2010 school year and by $430,000 for the 2010-2011 through 2013-2014 school years.
The Pecatonica school district is asking to exceed the revenue limit by $175,000 in 2008-2009 and an additional $175,000, beginning in 2009-2010, for recurring expenses. Beginning in 2009-2010, the district would be authorized to exceed the revenue limit by $350,000 for as long as it sees a need.
As important as schools are to the identity of small communities such as Monticello, Blanchardville and Hollandale, it's important for district residents to help shape the future of their districts.
There are contested races going on elsewhere in the county:
• Town of New Glarus, third supervisor.
• Town of New Glarus, fourth supervisor.
• Four people for three Albany village trustee spots.
• Four people for three Monticello village trustee spots.
• Four people for two spots on the Argyle school board.
• Six people for three spots on the Juda school board.
• Four people for three spots on the New Glarus school board.
Regardless of what races you will vote on, and regardless of whether it's contested or not, don't forget to vote April 1. It would be nice to see April Fools Day also be High Voter Turnout Day.
