by Christopher A. Service Sr.

This is my second article referencing the November mid-term election, which I regard as a very important one. Not that all elections are unimportant but much is being said this time around and of which we need to be mindful.  I recently heard one of the persons vying for a very important position say that there are over 300 taxes in Connecticut. My research tells me that there are possibly over 300 revenue sources, not over 300 taxes in Connecticut. What this misinformation tells me is that there could be several other pieces of information being spread that need to be fact-checked and verified. An informed electorate is a strong electorate but is the information credible?

I have long been an advocate of checking information before that information is made public. The source of information should also be checked. The fact that an individual has access to the media, be it print or electronic, does not make credible what that person says.My research also tells me that there are over 40,000 West Indians in the Greater Hartford area who are eligible to vote. That’s a massive voting block and those who are vying for the various political positions should take note. Not that they do not already know but they should not treat that fact lightly. One might argue that in the big scheme of things a West Indian voting block is not one that should be of much concern. That obviously is not true. Numbers do matter.

As of April 2018, my research shows that there are 169 towns in Connecticut. The 2010 Census indicated that there were 124,775 people in the Hartford area. Obviously, there could be a minimal margin of error. The point is that those who are vying for various political positions may be fully aware of those numbers. What is important to know is that our politicians get together and in a conference room do redistricting, usually to suit themselves. In most cases they rely on foot soldiers that may be just regular people on the streets. Those individuals know who real voters are and are able to give the politicians information. Nothing is wrong about information gathering. What should happen is a more conscious effort on the part of prospective candidates running for office to actually meet with their constituents of the various areas and hear directly their concerns.

November mid-term elections are of extreme importance. When you vote you should do so understanding fully what your candidate is all about. That is as I see it.