It is a common myth that the “important” elections only take place every four years. Local elections often take place every two years, and because turnout is lower, your vote has a much more direct impact on your life. 

The mayor is the elected executive responsible for the city’s daily operations. They appoint and dismiss key department heads, which usually include the chief of police. Mayors are responsible for presenting a yearly budget to the City Council for approval, although the Council may amend it. Either the mayor or the City Council may introduce new laws. Together, they address land use and development issues, housing, job programs or incentives, transportation policies, investment in parks or libraries, and how much to cooperate with state and federal government. 

City Council members have the final vote in creating laws and approving a city budget. They may develop their initiatives, respond to the mayor’s proposals, and approve or reject key department heads. The mayor usually has more power than an individual council member, and a council super-majority is required to override a mayor’s veto of Council-approved legislation. Nevertheless, the Council has the ultimate say concerning which laws are passed. 

The school board is the link between the classroom and the community. Members decide how and what students learn by setting policies, curriculums, and budgets for the school district. Voting for school board members affects funding for programs like the arts, music, and sports, the school calendar, and school-year opening and closing. They hire or fire school principals and set guidelines for teachers. Your vote for the school board directly affects the education of students in K-12 schools. 

So, this November, know that your vote has a much more direct impact on your life. Find more information on Danbury’s mayoral candidates on pages 5 and 6. 

For the full slate of Republican candidates visit: https://www.danburygop.com/ 

For the complete slate of Democratic candidates, visit: https://danburydemocrats.com/