Commentary | This March, vote local | Opinion

So much of our attention goes to national politics and politicians. This obsession is fueled by a riveting 24-hour news cycle that is dramatic, divisive and designed to entertain. The media wants you to believe that every move made by national politicians matters.

The truth is that landmark legislation with broad impact is extremely rare given divided government and partisan politics. Realistically, the impact of Congress is slow and the consequences to your daily life are diluted.

I am not discounting the long-term impact of national elections. Rather, I am encouraging you to spend some time and effort deciding how you will vote locally this election cycle.

The local officials you elect are not featured on cable news, but they make decisions that impact your life every day. Your city and county elected representatives approve budgets, setting and spending your property taxes. They set certain utility rates and decide what you pay for parking meters. They approve investments in infrastructure and hire first responders. Local elected officials influence decisions on parks, garbage service, development, code compliance, streetlights and more. Their impact on your life is more tangible and immediate than any elected politician in Washington, D.C.

Want speed bumps to keep your kids safe? Can’t sleep because of a party at a rental next door? Need help navigating the building department? Did your property taxes go up too much? Are you stuck in gridlock traffic? These are the types of issues that impact your daily life, and they’re all governed right here. In your city. By the officials you elect.

Unlike national political offices, many of these municipal positions are nonpartisan. Candidates run on local issues and create platforms based on the needs they see within their community. I think we can all agree that a break from tense, partisan politics is a breath of fresh (local, ocean) air. Without divisive political rhetoric, we can focus on selecting honest, common-sense, hard-working people. We can elect officials that will spend our money wisely and be available when we need them.

Voting local is vitally important, but it’s not always easy. Local races are difficult to follow. There is a lack of substantive debates, forums, interviews and news coverage. The candidates, who could even be your neighbors, are more difficult to learn about. Social media platforms propagate an abundance of rumors and misinformation. Incumbency is a big advantage. Name recognition and an established donor base are outsized factors in local races. Deep-pocketed developers, special interest groups or county political parties can easily contribute enough through political action committees to sway a race.

The good news is that these local candidates work and live right here in your local area, maybe even your neighborhood. The best way to learn about a local candidate is to meet them. I encourage you to do just that. Pick up the phone and introduce yourself. Invite them to tour your business. Stop by a commission meeting or local event. Let them know how their decisions impact your life and ask them the tough questions. Meet the candidates. Do the research. Don’t get hung up on party labels or online chatter. Decide who you trust to make informed decisions that are in the best interest of you and your neighbors. Then, this year, vote local.

Alison Fournier is a Pompano Beach City Commissioner. The deadline to request a mail ballot is Thursday, March 7. Your completed mail ballot must be returned to your elections office by 7 p.m. March 19. Early voting is from March 9 to March 17 at 25 locations in Broward and 23 locations in Palm Beach County. Early voting sites are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Broward and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Palm Beach. For the full list of early voting sites, consult the Broward County or Palm Beach County elections websites (browardvotes.gov or votepalmbeach.gov). Polls are open on Election Day, March 19, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.