In just a few days, the 2020 election will take place. Early voting ended over the weekend and had a record high participation, but many people still prefer casting their vote on Election Day Tuesday. Eddy County Clerk Robin Van Natta and everyone with the Bureau of Elections have done an excellent job this year.
There’s a great deal of anxiety in Carlsbad and across the country right now over this upcoming election. People are understandably worried about their jobs, their families and their future. Additionally, the country has never felt more divided.
We see reminders every single day, however, about how much we all really have in common. First, all of us are probably very relieved that we’re not going to have to see any more campaign ads for some time.
Every single week in Carlsbad, there are discussions (many of them lately over Zoom or the telephone) related to economic development, physical and behavioral health, education, infrastructure, beautification and many other important subjects. Political affiliation never comes up during these discussions – it is just groups of dedicated individuals all working together for the community. When it comes to working to add rehabilitation and treatment facilities, for example, philosophical differences are minor compared to the fact that everyone just really wants to help. Nobody talks about politics when we schedule cleanups around Carlsbad – we’re just all working together.
Carlsbad overwhelmingly consists of good people who are ready to assist those around them. That’s probably the case across the country. Despite what social media and television tries to tell us, Americans across the nation have much more in common with each other than they do differences.
If you have not voted yet, we certainly encourage you to do so on Tuesday. There are so many wonderful stories being told about people, of all ages, voting for the first time. No matter what happens on Election Day, the sun will rise on Wednesday and we’ll have a lot of work to do in Carlsbad. That is not at all meant to be dismissive of the importance of this election – it is an extremely important election, but we are all residents of the same great community and nation and need to work together.
Another memorial for a friend who passed away: Ocena Holcomb, owner of the North “Y” Drive-In, passed away on Oct. 27. Ocena dedicated herself to the North Y for decades. She was also one of Carlsbad’s best bowlers and always helped those around her whenever possible. So many of us had fond memories of hundreds of breakfasts and lunches at the North Y and enjoing Ocena’s excellent food.
We hope everyone had a safe and happy Halloween. Many Carlsbad children went into the weekend with a special surprise – Carlsbad MainStreet and Nuclear Waste Partnership gave out candy bags at the Carlsbad Municipal School lunch pickups on Friday. MainStreet Director Ashly Key said 2,000 bags were passed out. Thank you to everyone who assisted.
Sincerely,
Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway