Reflections on Primary Election for Mayor, Revised

     The Democratic primary race for mayor was determined by less than 500 votes!
Incredible. Disappointing.
     Apparently most voters stayed home. They weren't interested in either candidate or the issues. Seventy-seven percent of registered Democrats did not vote.
     Susan Feiszli, who held the tax rate flat for 2011, becomes a one-term mayor.
     Brian Tobin, who voted against a zero tax increase for 2011, becomes the Democratic candidate for mayor for 2012. Fifteen percent of registered Democrats voted for him.
     The tax rate was the bread and butter issue which was largely ignored. I have read that progressive Democrats have a penchant for raising taxes. How ridiculous! Penchant is the wrong word. Try appetite. Hmmm...those taxes taste so good!
     The spin-focus of the election was the legal issue concerning the city housing code and landlords. Elections are all about steering voters, controlling the message and spreading fear. Recall, seventy-seven percent of registered Democratic voters did not vote. I guess they didn't get the message. Or it was the wrong message. Obviously the absent voters didn't care.
     I have heard people talking about the good old boys in reference to the men who supported Brian Tobin's campaign. I suppose sexism had nothing to do with the results, everything was based on the issues. And I suppose cats fly.
     The sun will come up tomorrow, or the next day.
      But when will the voters in Cortland wake up?