In view of the major events occurring in our country today, such as rising crime rates in major cities or the inflation which puts a strain on middle class budgets, etc.— it may seem idle to focus on issues in our one tiny borough in a corner of Pennsylvania.

Except it is important.

A single vote in a national or state-wide election will not make the difference between victory and defeat, yet one vote can be decisive in a tiny borough where differences in outcomes are often measured in single digits. It is at the local level that democracy works — open borough council and school board meetings are where the views of actual people can be heard. It is at the local level where powerful lobbyists can be rebutted, where citizens and not the “mainstream: media hold sway, where the political donor class cannot ignore the citizenry.

The Republican Party of Media has been rejuvenated, quite literally. The head of the party, hard-working Michael Straw, has several years to go before celebrating his 30 birthday. The revitalized party now fields candidates for all borough offices and is active in supporting school board candidates as well as judicial
candidates and county-wide office seekers. The party holds open monthly meetings where, after committee people vote, there is open discussion, a period when any Republican can chime in to voice his or her opinions on any subject.

Our local party, in other words, listens to the concerns of local citizens so it can act on their behalf. Moreover, a competing Republican Party keeps the Democrat-controlled borough and county government on its toes. We have seen what happens in other countries when a two- party system degenerates into a corrupt, self-perpetuating one-party dictatorship. Even in a free country, one party ruling a city for decades creates stagnation and apathy (Philly anyone?).

One party rule anywhere must be countered. Will one party be allowed to raise taxes without opposition? Will parents and taxpayers be denied a say in how their schools are run?

Not if you vote—and keep your local Republican Party strong.

Rob Sebastian
Northern Precinct Committeeman