Although the May 5, 2015 election in Denver is over, not all candidates have finished the race.  Since I am a strong advocate of everyone’s need to value and respect the franchise and exercise their right to vote, I want to remind voters that our responsibility during this election cycle has not yet been completely fulfilled.

On June 2nd there will be a runoff election to elect those candidates who did not receive over 50% of the vote during the May 5th election.  For those who are not already aware that voter turnout is usually higher for a regular election than it is for a runoff election, especially when a major political candidate is not on the ballot for the runoff election, you may now consider yourselves officially informed that turnout is higher for a regular election.

Even if the turnout during a regular election is low it will likely be substantially lower during a runoff election.  It is unfortunate that many of us shun our civic duty because we fail to realize the value that we receive through our vote and its potential to help many others who we might not even know or because we feel that the value we receive from casting it is outweighed by the time and effort that we expend in order to cast it.

At any other time outside of them opting not to vote, if one were to ask these same people to help someone in need they would be more than happy to do so.  That is because altruism is a basic part of most peoples’ social construct and the personal reward for philanthropy is more obvious and usually more quickly attained than it is for a ballot that we cast.

It is very likely that an outsized segment of those who vote in special elections and runoff elections are avid members of a political party’s partisan base.  It does not matter whether it is because these avid voters believe more strongly that their vote will actually have an impact on the outcome of the election or if it is simply because they have a deeper interest in politics than other voters who may find voting to be just a necessary imposition.  The bottom line is that they will likely have a major impact on the election and might even be the ones that ultimately decide who the winners will be.

I want to specifically address the runoff in District 11 between Stacie Gilmore and Sean Bradley because this is the District in which I live.  Ms. Gilmore mentioned in the article that she wrote and I posted to this website that she has lived in the Montbello Green Valley Ranch community for almost 20 years.  Anyone who has lived in this District for a substantial period of time knows that nuances that can at times become not so subtle and be divisive exist between the Montbello and Green Valley Ranch populace.

In order to properly represent constituents in District 11, the successful city council candidate must be able to effectively work in the best interest of both Montbello and Green Valley Ranch residents.  In order to do this that council member must be able to find common ground for constituents during times of controversy.  In order to find true common ground it will be important for that council member to be intimately familiar with those previously mentioned Montbello Green Valley Ranch nuances.  This will be beneficial to them in articulating a solution that will be more likely to be accepted by both sides.

Because Stacie Gilmore has lived in this District for a long period of time and is familiar with these nuances, it gives her an advantage over relatively new-comer Sean Bradley.  Since there is little doubt that the June 2nd turnout will be lower than that of the May 5th election turnout and it will be largely composed of partisan base voters, if both camps are still canvassing neighborhoods, they will most likely focus their main efforts on the avid base constituents so don’t be surprised if they knock on your door.

Regardless of which candidate you support and whether you are a Democrat, Republican or Independent; be sure to vote.  It is an intricate part of our civic duty, there are plenty of available polling places, the time and effort that it will take to reach them will be minimal, it will be well worth our time and ultimately will provide an added value to our respective community.

Finally, always remember, your vote is the most important one of all, unless you don’t use it!

Eulus Dennis