Stinky Turnout?

Last week I noticed that something quite foul has invaded my yard. No, no, its not a neighbor’s doggie bomb, or a repugnant colony of insects. In fact it is something called a Stinkhorn, a member of the mushroom variety, with a scientific name of Phallus impudicus. I am not making this up.

This mushroom, with its slimy green cap, smells quite foul and, how jolly, attracts flies from quite a distance to spread its foul ordure and spores about my property. Additionally, its rather profane shape apparently caused a female relative of Dr. Freud to break them herself rather than chancing that her young maids might happen upon one of these suggestive mushrooms.

I am hopeful that one day I can eradicate this stinky neighbor. (Gardeners, please send in your tips). But I have to say, these stinky, profane mushrooms made me think of something else quite different in this town… voter apathy.

Bear with me here, I’m not going for another voter soapbox (well, not entirely another soapbox). With a population of nearly 31,000 and 18, 722 registered voters I was chagrined to learn only 481 registered voters came to the Special Town meeting last week. So, while a hair over 60% of the population is registered to vote, only 1.6% of the population or 2.7% of registered voters bothered to make an appearance at the meeting.

Granted, turnout is lower for autumn special town meetings, but they aren’t often much bigger. In fact the only town meeting I remember being dramatically bigger was the blowout a few years ago for the mall where shuttle busses were needed to help take residents back and forth from distantly parked cars.

Still and all, something stinks about such low voter turnout. I confess, I grew up in a town with a slightly smaller population and a ‘city’ designation. I do not think Tewksbury is city, even though under Massachusetts Law any community over 12,000 may become a city. Some even become cities technically but are still named “Town Of ….”

Perhaps its time for Tewksbury to consider better ways of town management. I am not advocating against our Board of Selectmen, many of whom I bump into regularly at different town-wide functions. I am not advocating against our town manager. What I am saying is that, with such rampant voter apathy, a reasonable parity cannot be achieved when only 3 percent of voters actually vote.

For any article to pass, all a sponsor needs to do gather troops and march down to the high school and vote. Place your article strategically on the warrant and bring enough friends and supporters and passage is all but guaranteed. In some cases not all 3% vote for the same thing. So, decisions affecting the lives and pocketbooks of homeowners throughout Tewksbury can be made by very small groups.

On one hand, I appreciate the simplicity and honestly of open town meetings, where every resident can stand up and let loose a tirade about any article before the whole body votes on the subject. In this scenario, those that want passage or defeat of an article badly enough will show up.

On the other hand, I am not sure I believe in a “you snooze, you lose” sort of government where such few numbers are needed to pass occasionally major articles.

In some towns voters can elect representatives for town meetings. Those representatives attend town meetings and can still debate the articles and vote, but on behalf of larger blocks. Plus, with a representative system based on voting districts, in theory all registered voters would be represented.

I still like going to town meeting and seeing the issues debated on the floor. With so few people coming to town meetings regularly we can often zip right through many articles, which speaks to my admiration of efficiencies.

But our population will continue to grow. Apathy and I hope I’m wrong, will likely increase too. I’m not sure if making any changes is the right thing to do, but its time to open that dialogue and begin discussions about what is right for our town, and our pocketbooks. Voter apathy stinks, worse than those nasty stink horns in my yard.

Myers-Briggs

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