Election season heats up

By Charles Sercombe
It’s officially an election season.
How can we tell?
Technically it starts when the filing deadline has passed to run for office.
But it really starts when things heat up and a candidate has reported either the theft of or damage to their campaign signs. We now have a victim: Saad Almasmari, who is one of nine candidates vying for one of three seats on city council.
He reported that about 40 of his signs were spray-painted with a large “X” through his name.
Almasmari has this to say to whoever is responsible for the damage:
“If you don’t want me to run and win, stand against me legally by being my election competitor. Or support any other candidate against me. Or you would have come to me and tell me what you don’t like about my plan and thoughts. Come and have conversations with me. I’m ready to answer all your questions and concerns.”
This election season has been otherwise low-key and calm. Unlike previous years, there has been no candidate forum for candidates to meet the public and discuss their plans.
But on a number of Facebook pages of the candidates, they appear to be doing a lot of door-to-door campaigning.
There have also been about 400 applications submitted for absentee ballots, which appears to be a new strategy by candidates in recent years to get more voters to vote, and vote early.
For those who are not registered to vote, you have until July 6 to do so in order to participate in the Aug. 4 Primary Election.
The election features three incumbents seeking re-election: Robert Zwolak, Anam Miah and Abu Musa.
Their challengers, besides Almasmari, include: Frank Woodman, Monzurul Karim, Mohamed Alsomiri, Susan Dunn and Cathie Gordon.
In the Aug. 4 election, three candidates for council will be eliminated and the remaining six candidates will square-off in the November General Election.
The Primary Election also includes a public school millage renewal. The renewal is for 18 mills, which has been in place for 20 years. It produces over $1.8 million a year for the school district.
Only those who own commercial properties or rental dwellings pay the tax. Those who own their own home and live in it do not pay this tax.