Today the Daily Times was nice enough to print a letter I submitted reminding voters of the upcoming deadline to switch parties for the February, 2008 primary (it’s the last letter on the page, I suppose we get the last word after the poultry farm debate.)
The letter as written was originally longer; I shortened it at the behest of the committee. This is the body I actually wrote:
An Open Letter To Voters from the Wicomico County Republican Party
Dear Voter:
As the body that administers the affairs of the Republican Party in our county and represents its interests to the state party apparatus, it is our charge to promote Republican candidates for election to local, state, and national offices.
Next February Maryland voters will go to the polls to nominate candidates for our Congressional seats and for the office of President. We feel that the Republican voters are going to have many good choices for both offices and that the races for nomination, particularly in the First Congressional District, are going to go down to the wire with every last vote being important to determine the outcome.
In the last two decades Wicomico County has become a solidly Republican county based on election results for state and national offices. Since 1988, the GOP candidates for President and Governor have had little trouble winning here with no small amount of help provided by thoughtful Democrats and independents who tend to have values prevalent in the Republican Party but maintain their voter registration elsewhere.
While the election is still over three months away, if you are a Democrat or Independent who wishes to participate in the Republican primary the Maryland Board of Elections dictates that party registration must be changed by Monday, November 19, 2007 in order to participate in the Primary Election held February 12, 2008.
So it is with this in mind that we, the undersigned members of the Republican Central Committee of Wicomico County, encourage you to contact the Board of Elections and secure your opportunity to participate in what promises to be one of the most exciting elections the Eastern Shore has seen in decades.
We know what the recent election results have been, and we think it’s time for the voters of Wicomico County to come home to the Republican Party.
As for the amount of editing the Daily Times did, it was pretty minor so I can’t complain. Either way, the message is the same: if you want to help choose between Wayne Gilchrest and a host of challengers including State Senator Andy Harris, you have just six-plus working days to do so if you’re not already a registered Republican. Switch now or forever hold your peace.
