Our community, our children, our schools and our vote are up for grabs until 7:00 p.m. today, November 3, 2015. As voters, we have the power to determine the outcome for all of them.

Our community: as residents of our various communities we have the power to determine what those communities will look like – not just in terms of neighborhood schools, but in every way.

Our children: we have the power to determine whether they will be in the hands of a school board that will place our children’s best interest first or whether they will place their political ambitions first.

Our schools: we have the power to determine whether available resources, financial and human, will be put into improving and strengthening our neighborhood schools and keeping quality teachers in place or whether we will replace these current teachers with teachers that are less experienced and still in need of training. At the same time, we can determine whether our neighborhood schools will either be dismantled and replaced by charter schools or – if they are not dismantled, forced to share their space with them.

Our vote: we have the power to determine whether we will discount the power of our vote and not vote or just be too complacent to do so, our vote is for sale to the candidate that receives the most money – whether transparent, dark or both, the candidate that has the larger number of – especially last minute – telephone calls made on their behalf, the candidate with the most sleek sound bites; or if it is not for sale and will be cast for the most qualified candidate of our choice.

The polls close at 7:00 p.m. today so whether you are a Democrat, Republican or Independent be sure to cast your vote in time for it to count. Be sure to drop off your ballot at a Voter Service and Polling Center (VSPC) or at a 24-hour ballot drop-off box by 7:00 p.m. this evening, November 3, 2015. It is too late to mail it in; it will not be received in time to be accepted.

You can find the VSPC and ballot drop-of box information on the “HOW TO RETURN YOUR BALLOT” card that was enclosed with the ballot that you received in the mail. And always remember, your vote is the most important one of all…unless you don’t use it! So find out where to drop off your ballot and be sure to vote!

Eulus Dennis