What Are We Voting For?

Oct 24, 2023

The American Flag against a brick wall.

With voting season right around the corner in November, there are a handful of new voters in Brunswick County, who might need some pointers on the candidates’ jobs and how they help us in our day to day lives. The Judges, Sheriffs, School Board, and county commissioners help make a lot of decisions for the community everyday and it takes a lot to know how to be fit enough for their jobs. When you get your first ballot it might be scary with all the choices that are in front of you and you might be thinking that you might make the wrong choice, always remember that voting is about your personal opinion, not anyone else’s. So, allow me to introduce to you what voting is all about and what you need to know this voting season.

When voting for judges make sure to research the people who are running. That means that you should know a little bit about them as a person and also what they hope to do when they are voted. Finding out more about the person will help you better understand why the candidate is running in the first place. You can find some posts on social media or articles about some stances that they have taken in the past to know what opinions they have on different issues in the community. Click here for more information!

Sheriffs are one of the biggest helpers in our world today. They are there to help us with accidents, some issues that might happen at home, or to protect us in public places. Sheriff’s jobs are to always protect and serve their community. When voting for a sheriff, you might want to look at their background history with other sheriff/cop positions, and focus on how well they served back then and then you can decide whether you think they would be a good candidate for the position.

The school board is a crucial choice because those are the people who make decisions for the kids who will be our adults in the upcoming future. When you’re voting for new members on the school board you want to research the candidates and find some that possess strong critical thinking skills with the ability to analyze complex issues. These candidates have to have confidence to make smart decisions that will have long term impacts. When researching candidates, find someone who would be appropriate for the position they are running for. Want more information? Click here!

County Commissioners are the ones who set the property tax rate for the community, regulate land use, and oversee the county’s administration. The County Commissioners Board meet every first and third Monday of the month to deliberate anything they may need to have a discussion about. Find out more here!

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About the Contributor

Jenna Williams, Staff Writer

Jenna Williams Favorite movie: The Notebook Hobbies: Playing volleyball, taking walks, reading on the beach Favorite food: Fruit Sophomore, Jenna Williams was born and raised in Summersville, West Virginia along with her older sister and parents. Williams is entering her seventh year of track as well as fifth year of volleyball. She has been a part of the junior varsity volleyball team for two years now. “I feel that volleyball and getting a job really helped me meet new people and step out of my comfort zone,” said Williams. “I now feel a lot more comfortable here than I used to when I first moved.” After growing up in the mountains, Williams experienced a huge change of scenery when moving to the beach last year. She has always loved the beach, and since she lives so close, now compares her home to a forever vacation. In March of 2023, Williams got a job on the Holden Beach Island that allows her to take advantage of the beach nearby during her breaks. “In the evenings after practice I really enjoy going to sit on the beach to have quiet time,” said Williams. “But if I can't go in the evenings I usually just take time for myself and do reflection.” Williams states that she has already learned useful and beneficial information about journalism that she implements within the work she does and the responsibilities she upholds in this class. Williams is now familiar with things including how to write papers in a more professional and informative manner, learn how to use a camera for sporting and school events, and has learned insight on many different topics. “Since this is my second year in journalism, I still really hope to further my photography skills, and be more active in the school community,” said Williams. “I really enjoyed the positive environment in the class and all the people in it.”