Advisory votes can have their place as a useful tool in determining the correct course for government, but now is not the time. I expect that this November’s election turnout will be no greater than 40 percent (and that’s being optimistic) because not only is it an off year, it’s an off-off-year election. What this means is that the results of these nonbinding advisory votes will show the opinions of a majority of the minority, and will not produce an accurate picture of the Clark County public on these issues.
If our esteemed elected commissioners base their policy preferences off the results of these votes, they will have no way of knowing for sure if it is actually the will of the people, and they will be precisely back where they began, only roughly $100,000 poorer; or they will believe that they have been vindicated by the results (as inaccurate as they may be). The only thing more dangerous than someone who doesn’t know is someone who doesn’t know but thinks they do.
Clark County would be much wiser to commission a scientific poll on these issues that will more accurately reflect the demographic layout of the county, and thus, a more accurate barometer of public opinion. Not to mention, it will be much cheaper.
Roy Valo
Vancouver
