Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Democracy Northwest: Vote!

Have you mailed your ballot yet?  

If you're a procrastinator (like me), you still have plenty of time (measured in hours).  Besides dropping your ballot in the mail, you have until 8 p.m. to drop it in one of the many dropboxes around the region. Click here for Washington, and here for Oregon.

Washington Senator Maria Cantwell (center) running for reelection, stops by Miro Tea in Seattle.
Although some of you jaded citizens don't vote, America's newly recognized citizens who had to apply for citizenship are thrilled and honored to have the  privilege.  And if you think your vote doesn't count, well, in 2004 Washington Governor Chris Gregoire beat Dino Rossi by a mere 129 votes out of several million.

While Pacific Northwest Seasons is generally focused on everyday adventures and life here in the great Northwest, I'm dedicating this post to my late father P. Lee Irwin,  journalist, associate university professor, newspaper publisher, avid Husky football fan, super dad, and engaged citizen who kept politicians on their toes through his award-winning editorials for the former Gresham Outlook , Bothell (and later Northshore) Citizen, and other local papers.
Ples Lee Irwin in Red Square, Moscow, Russia.

As a publisher of numerous community newspapers around the Northwest back when newspapers were a going concern, my father's political endorsements through his editorials held weight with Northwest politicians, from the school board to U.S. Senators.  

He was passionate about exercising our right to vote and instilled that (among many other things) in his children.  As a kid I remember going door to door asking neighbors to please vote to approve our local school levy. (He was especially passionate about funding for education and was one of the key driving forces that led to the founding of Mt. Hood Community College.)

Although I tried to avoid the family stereotype and resisted becoming a journalist, here I am blogging away, feeling compelled to write about things that I'm passionate about.  So I urge you to vote if you haven't already. 

And remember, amid all the nastiness of the negative campaign tactics, read your voter's guide or go to websites that help sort through the issues without all the noise. (Ha, that's the closest I'll come to endorsements.)  Be an informed voter.

Your one vote does count.

And regardless of who wins and what initiatives pass or don't, we're still all fellow Americans in this together.  













12 comments:

Ed said...

Great post....get out there and vote PNW!

Joe Leeak said...

Very nice post Jill. I didn't know that about your dad.

Amy hollis said...

Proud to vote and proud to be a part of this family! I too remember going door to door to encourage support for schools. And I remember all grandpa's campaign buttons.

Lindsey said...

AWESOME POST!!!!!! So proud to be part of this family that always cares about how our city, state, and federal govt is run. And love the pic of grandpa...

Jeanne said...

I love the memories of Lee. He was an amazing man--educated, well-read, thinker and committed community leader. Besides that, he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. Thank you, Jill, for your wonderful reminders of him and the importance of voting.

jill said...

Thanks Ed!

Joe, thanks, yea my dad was a great guy.

Hey Amy and Lindsey, granddaughters! Yea, your grandpa was a wonderful man and would be so proud of you both.

Thanks Jeanne, love your words.

Lesley said...

Nice tribute to your Dad, Jill. I didn't know about his Northshore Citizen connection -- I worked a summer there after graduating from high school! The journalism gene must run in your blood. Thanks for sharing with us all.

jill said...

Hey Les!
Yea, my dad was publisher of the Bothell Citizen in the 1950s (7 years or so). Yes, I remember your restaurant reviews in The Daily!

Anne said...

Yes he purchased the Citizen (well, I think our grandparents may have helped him get started) in 1951 and we moved to Bothell that fall after he got his master's at the University of Minnesota, David, Vicki and Jill all came along while we were there. He always loved everything about it but wanted to teach so left the paper in the hands of someone else while he went back to Minnesota on the train to teach journalism there..leaving five wild and crazy Irwin kids (especially Jill-z-babe) to keep our mother busy...then got the teaching position at the UW in the fall of 58. Being a crusading journalist was in his blood though so back to publishing, although he once told me his perfect job would be writing editorials for a major newspaper.
Jill, thanks for the memories and I love that photo, don't think I have ever seen it.

Anonymous said...


Good post and a nice tribute to your Father! Much different than your
normal material.

Anonymous said...

I really like this post! My mom moved here as an immigrant following WWII when she was 9. Both she and my grandparents (who became US citizens) instilled the importance – and the privilege – of voting in me and my brothers, & aunts & uncles. That, and being civically engaged. Each vote DOES count, and personally, last night was a HUGE THANK YOU JESUS moment for me. What a relief!

Kathleen O'Dell said...

Jill, I didn't know about your dad's involvement with MHCC. That's cool! And a much-needed resource out there in east Multnomah County...