By Tribune-Review

Published: Friday, November 2, 2012, 8:57 p.m.
Updated: Tuesday, November 13, 2012

They have had their say — those candidates whose advertising has flowed into your home for months. You have heard them debate or have read their arguments.

Now you get the last word — and can meet your commitment to yourself and the nation at the same time — by voting on Tuesday.

The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., plenty of time for you to be heard. Plenty of time to encourage friends and relatives to vote.

Voting is a way of exercising political muscle, to show that we are not a backwater of disinterested people but communities of astute citizens who want to be engaged in the process, now and in the future.

In addition to the presidential and U.S. Senate races, there are two races of local importance: U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, a Republican from Butler, is challenged by Democrat Missa Eaton of Sharon. The 3rd Congressional District includes all of Armstrong County.

And state Rep. Jeff Pyle, a Ford City Republican, faces Democrat Jo Ellen Bowman of Kiski. The 60th state Legislative District covers much of the middle and southern sections of the county.

The winners of these two races will be the officials you are most likely to see in visits to your hometown and with whom you can discuss the state of the economy, funding for education, police and fire protection or whatever issue is of importance to you.

By voting, you gain credibility for your opinions, whether you can say “I voted for you and ...” or “I didn't vote for you, but ... .”

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