June 4th, 2007 by Atomictumor
OK, I’m not really going to do a Dickens post.
I’ve always hated that whole 18th century British thing. I mean, I had to do like 5 book reports on Dicken’s books, which ingrained in me a lifelong hatred of his works. They could be the best things in the world, and damned if I’m going to read them, because I’m just that way.
But I’m already digressing, aren’t I?
Yes, today is election eve, and in the years that I’ve been doing the ‘Tumor and keeping up with politics in this backwards little town, I’ve always gotten a special tingle deep in my chest on the day before elections.
This time tomorrow, we’re going to have no less that 2 dozen people rolling all over town, wearing embarrassing hats and colorful t-shirts, sunburned, dehydrated, trying as hard as they can to keep up through the exhausting and maddening rush of people crazed with constitutional fever. The exercise of democratic rights is not for the weak of heart or spine, and we should expect to see true grit on the camping chairs and sign popping pick up trucks of the candidates and staff tomorrow.
Yes, Oak Ridge, the stuff of heroes. Old people will weep, and babies will explode. The wicked will repent their sinful ways, and the just will rock on righteously, because tomorrow, June 5th, is voting day in Oak Ridge.
The Oak Ridger is finally getting serious about it. They dropped their recommendations, a good week or two after I did it (and then redid it), and a week or two (plus one day) since the Observer laid it down (and then re-ran it), and damned if we didn’t all come to the same conclusions.
So, the media elite of the town have all agreed, does this mean its a sure thing?
Hell, who knows. I’m still, for fun and giggles, sticking to the predictions I made in my original post:
City council: Evans, Hayes, and Hensley will win by at least a collective 80% margin.
School board: Fillauer with about 40%, Agle with about 40%, Wells with about 20%.
Judge: McNees with about 99.91%, AT with about 0.09% (woo)
Crestpointe referendum: Passes with a 65% margin.
—
We’ll all see how it goes down. Apparently there’s going to be a candidate party thing at the Flatwater tomorrow night, I’m thinking I might get rowdy and crash it to watch the winners roar in triumph, and the not-winners (because nobody’s a loser in 2007, right?) cry softly into their beer before excusing themselves. I’ll collect my money from the people fool enough to bet against my mighty predictions, and go home happy that I have the sense not to be a politician myself.
Should be a good night.
June 4th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
Looking forward to seeing you then mate.
June 4th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
“…mate.”
Didn’t you see where he really dislikes those Brit. sayings. Or is that the sailor in you?
Looks good to me. S.B. race may be closer. High turn out could be bad for incumbents, but it is probably for the CP issue more than a seat race.
June 4th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
Yeah, I don’t think the SB race is going to churn out the voters, and theres been disillusionment regarding the tactics displayed in laying down yard signs by the new kid (lots of people have bitched about him, or his people dropping signs on the property line between two houses, so each one thinks that its the neighbors sign, and neither take it down).
I think the bond ref depends entirely on the senior citizen population. I think many’ll be inclined to swallow the “not with my money you won’t” line of thought and vote against it.
June 4th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
One issue, or big issue, elections tend to bring out a larger amount of voters for and against that issue. I think the ref. will pass to allow the spending. It is really silly to vote against it. The City pays to improve property, the value increases, the assessed value goes up, more taxes are collected, they get their money back and the improvement stays long after the return of payoff.
June 4th, 2007 at 10:25 pm
“Babies will explode.” Bos & Eaves, take turns at the polls, please. For the love of Wingnut!
June 4th, 2007 at 10:44 pm
I wouldn’t know anything about Oak Ridge elections were it not for your postings. Well, and all the signs. Your stuff helped make sense of it all - sort of. Thanks, I guess.