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Show Editorials It is becoming increasingly apparent Park City voters couldn't elect themselves out of a paper bag on a bet. Regardless of the outcome of Tuesday's primary election, one thing stands clear: Park City's measly 20 percent voter turnout, didn't amount to a hill of beans as far as Summit County as a whole was concerned. For years Park City has been crying for local representation on the Summit County Board of Commissioners and in each election Pa X Citv's candidate goes down in flaming defeat because of voter apathy reflected by 10 to 20 percent turnouts. Park City voters definitely backed local Commission candidate Matt Alvarez in Tuesday's primary election, but nobody else did. Although Park City is by far the largest population area in Summit County, its traditional 20 percent voter turnouts in county elections don't stack up very well with other Summit County Communities where at least 50 percent of the registered voters go to the polls and sometimes 80 percent or more. It's easy to make the assumption county government has no bearing on the day to day affairs of Park City. Nothing could be further from the truth. Most federal and state programs, particularly in the area of social services are administered through the'county level and it's Summit County that collects the property taxes that are Park City's principal source of revenue. Park City is affected by Summit County every day and. without local representation on the Board of Commissioners we are going to be impacted adversely more than not. It's becoming embarrassing to continue to cry out for local representation when the majority of our voting population doesn't really give a damn. As each county election approaches political ferver sweeps Park City and the call goes up "we've got the votes, we've got the right, we're going to take over." But when filing dates expire, we don't even have the candidates. Every administrative office at the County Courthouse is up for election this year including two of three County Commission seats. When the primaries were over Tuesday, Park City had one candidate in the running, Fred Eley for County Sheriff. What's amazing is North and South Summit residents, actually fear Park City, with all its population and votes, may just take control. Nothing could be more unlikely. If Park City doesn't go to the polls, it could hardly elect anybody-even if it did have a candidate or somebody to elect. The rest of Summit County doesn't have to worry about Park City; we're content to just sit and complain. In some communities it's considered a right and a privilege to vote and in those communities residents take pride in heavy voter turnouts. Not in Park City, though. In Park City voting, at least' in county elections, is looked at as corny, provincial and a sign of mediocrity. |