League: No Contest,

But Exercise

Your Right To Vote

To the Editor:
The League of Women Voters, Cooperstown Area urges the citizens of the Village of Cooperstown to vote in the village election Tuesday, March 19. Polls are open noon-9 p.m. at the Cooperstown Fire Hall on Chestnut Street.
There are three open trustee seats: two for three-year terms; and one for a one-year term to complete the final year of the seat left vacant when Ellen Tillapaugh became mayor. Richard Sternberg and Jeanne Dewey, current trustees, are running for the two three-year terms. MacGuire Benton is running for the one-year term.
Because there are no challengers this year, these are the sole candidates for the seats. Therefore it is a “no contest” election year. Often, when there is a “contest” for seats, the League of Women Voters, Cooperstown Area, will host and organize a debate so that citizens may have an opportunity to hear the candidates respond to issues and ask questions directly of them. Because there is a single candidate for the seats this year, there will be no debate. However, the League strongly encourages all citizens to make their voices heard and exercise their right to vote.
Another method for participating in local government is to attend the meetings of the Village Trustees. Meetings are open to the public and occur on the fourth Monday every month, starting at 6:30 p.m. in the Village Hall, 22 Main St. The floor is open for public comment at the beginning of each meeting, when citizens have the opportunity to voice their concerns.
Additionally, to follow village governance, one can find much information, including the meeting schedule, meeting agendas and meeting minutes, on the website Cooperstownny.org under the Government tab.
The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan, political organization – a label which commonly confuses people. It means that the League does not support or oppose political parties or candidates. The League is political in that the organization believes democracy is not a spectator sport and that all citizens need to educate themselves and participate in democracy. When not engaged in organizing and hosting candidate debates and forums, League members encourage young people to register to vote, study pertinent issues and policies, come to member agreement on these issues and then lobby state and federal legislators based on those consensus decisions.
The League in New York State, founded in 1919, celebrates 100 years this year. If interested in joining, call me at (607) 547-2853 or coopmurray@msn.com

MAUREEN MURRAY
League of Women Voters
Cooperstown