Quiet please (or what day is it on the A.B.B. calendar).

For better or for worse ... we are now in quiet season for politics, locally anyway, and hopefully to boot.

Well not hopefully from the blogging perspective.  But that would be a very selfish wish to see the normal quiet season upended.  

We certainly have seen some changes in the unofficial campaign rules that use to prevail.  Fundraisers having taken place and to take place.  I am not being critical about the same either.  In my opinion smart moves.  

Outside of that though, we have reached the point where other matters on the calendar tend to over shadow the political front on the local spectrum.  Just a two month lull so to speak, but a lull nonetheless.

I have heard a few names tossed out for possible inclusion on the April ballot in town.  the obvious ones are well of course obvious.  You assume anyone who has been publicly raising money is in fact going to run.

There are three names being repeated for potential challengers for selectmen.  Tow names being tossed about for challengers in the school committee contests, and I have heard three different names for Board of Health.  Nothing heard for the planning board other than incumbents or the other offices.

Who are they you may be asking, and will continue to ask.  I am not giving anyone free press for potential candidacy. I know, back to the tease mode.  What the heck, why not right?

What I would like to see though is in fact a healthy election.  Contested races across the board.  It would be real nice to see one with a voter turnout approaching the turnouts that we seem only to be able to muster for special elections.  

Where have we gone to when you pray for a 30% turnout?  But that is an entirely different story.

I mention all this today in the hopes that someone reads the same and becomes interested in being involved.  Maybe just one of you.  Think of the potential office for which you might be suited.  Think about your availability and ability to serve, and consider running.  

That includes running for Town Meeting member.  

First bit of info for everyone, the 2014 election calendar is on line.

In a new twist, nomination papers will be available starting December 2, 2013. Yes they will, it is at the bottom of the calendar.

Last day to register to vote in the town election is March 18, 2014.  Not March 19th, not the day of the election. State law applies for that little tidbit.

If you have moved from one address to another within town, if you have moved into town, if you have decided to ignore the town census, if you have voted in a few elections, DOUBLE CHECK whether you are registered.  

Common potential voter gripe: I am not listed to register to vote.  Q: Where do you live? A: In town. Q: How long? A: A year.  Q: Did you register to vote. A: No.

Massachusetts does not allow same day registration.  While you might find that a bit quirky for such a liberally progressive state, it is both fact and law.

Polling hours are 10:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M.  Shorter hours than for a state and federal election.  Longer hours than a number of communities.

That's another gripe.  Not sure I totally by into that one.  We all are tired after work.  Not a big enough reason in my mind to not go to the polls, and not enough of a reason to open the polls three hours earlier. Just an opinion.

Anyway just some general info on the stuff.

Interesting word the other day used by a commentator.  Frugal.  Folks, frugal don't mean cheap.  Frugal is the concept that should be applied by everyone when spending other people's money, even when you have thrown a few of your own coins into the kitty. 

It is getting the best bang for the buck.  Sometimes that even means spending a bit more for something. It is a concept that should be applied in good times and in bad, and in good times often loses out to overspending and in bad times is too often substituted for what it is not, which is the cheap option.

Again just my take on it.

Speaking of takes:  Let us a take a look at stuff.  The what's hot, what's not meter.

What's hot?  Nothing burning out of control at the moment that I can see on the local scale.  A bunch of people are burnt out. Period.  

A lot of political energy was spent by people during the first nine months of this year in this town.  Some of the excess being carried over for a month. 

An absolute whole lot of nothing has been done. Some may disagree. Some may argue that truth justice and the American way has been protected and preserved, and some of you may argue the exact opposite.  Both sides would be a little bit right.

Anyway, just another rambling thought, and the last one for the day.

Be safe.