To the Editor:
Thank you to all Middletown residents who voted on Election Day. Exercising your right to vote is privilege that is not guaranteed to everyone in the world. In all, 83.74 percent of all registered voters in Middletown voted.
Each and every voter should be proud of taking the time to cast their ballot for the candidate(s) whom they believe will best lead our city, state and country. The power held by a voter is awesome: just look at the billions of dollars spent in soliciting your vote. It is a large responsibility yet tremendously rewarding.
Thank you also to the army of poll workers who endured a very long, stressful yet rewarding day working in our city's 14 polling districts. It is because of these folks that we are able to vote in an organized and efficient manner. Each poll worker received training to conduct their respective tasks in an orderly and professional execution of their duties.
Congratulations to them for being an election official and thus facilitating voters the honor of voting.
I would also like to thank the Registrar of Voters Office, the Town Clerk's office, the Middletown Police, the Mayor's office, the Board of Education, and the Public Works Department. The coordination of our city's services made for a smooth Election Day and the dedication to your jobs is inspiring.
A special thanks to all the campaign volunteers who worked tirelessly on behalf of their candidates and political party. They are the backbone of elective politics. These volunteers dedicate countless hours and resources in the hopes of getting their candidates elected. They are the true-believers in democracy and work tirelessly to promote their candidate's and party's platforms and issues before the voters.
Democracy is worthless unless it is practiced and political volunteers perform countless tasks towards realizing its goals.
A final and sincere thank you to the candidates who were on Tuesday's ballot. Regardless of party affiliation, I am humbled by each candidate's willingness to endure countless demands upon them and their families in the hopes of representing the citizens of Middletown, Connecticut and the country.
We all owe a debt of gratitude to these men and woman who believe in the system, work ceaselessly to improve it, and are brave enough to speak publicly in what they believe.
And for those who are not registered to vote: if your voice is not heard, then democracy is merely a theory. Casting your vote on Election Day is a great feeling: just ask any of the 20,124 who did.
Dan Pickett, chairman Middletown Democratic Party