05/09/13: Showing up at decision time

This op-ed appeared in The Virginian-Pilot on the date shown.

THE EYES of the nation have already turned to Virginia’s gubernatorial race, one of only two such contests in the country and the only competitive one. But electing a governor is only one of this fall’s decisions for state voters.

All 100 seats in the House of Delegates will be on the ballot. Four of the five constitutional offices — commonwealth’s attorney, commissioner of the revenue, sheriff, and treasurer — will be there for Virginia’s cities. In some cases, the party’s nominee has already been chosen, either because no one else filed or because the candidate won a low-turnout, poorly advertised firehouse primary.

A few contests remain and over the next month, Virginians will choose candidates for those offices.

At its convention May 17-18, Republicans will officially nominate Ken Cuccinelli as their candidate for governor. Convention delegates will also choose a nominee for lieutenant governor — from seven candidates — and a nominee for attorney general, where there are two candidates.

Democratic candidates for the statewide offices will be chosen in a primary on June 11. With no other candidates having filed, Terry McAuliffe is the party’s nominee for governor. There are two candidates running in each of the elections for lieutenant governor and attorney general.

Also included in that June 11 state-run primary are eleven House of Delegates nominating contests. Of the 11, only three currently face challengers for the fall. That could change because independent candidates have until 7 p.m. June 11 to file.

Two of the 11 House primaries are in Hampton Roads. The retirement of longtime delegate Bob Tata opened up the seat in the 85th District, and the Republican contest there has garnered a fair amount of press, as two of the three candidates have duked it out. The winner will face a Democratic opponent in the fall.

The other primary contest, in the 90th House district, has been a low-key affair. The winner will be the Democratic nominee, who currently faces no opposition in the fall.

Just five constitutional office contests are on primary ballots across Virginia, but two of those are in Hampton Roads. Voters in Portsmouth will chose the Democratic candidate for sheriff. Voters in Norfolk will choose the Democratic candidate for commissioner of the revenue. No one has filed to challenge either winner in November.

Whether a convention or a primary, the process of winnowing the field of candidates takes place early — and often with little fanfare. Voters who are dismayed at the choices, or lack thereof, in November have to take an active role in helping to select the winners. The clichés are true: Democracy is not a spectator sport. Decisions are made by those who show up.

If your preferred candidate is already in the race, now is the time to help them. All of the campaigns can use contributors — and not just the monetary ones. Volunteers are welcome — to knock on doors, to make phone calls or to just talk to their neighbors.

If your preferred candidate is not in the race, consider that June 11 filing deadline. Encourage them to run. Or consider running yourself.

Do whatever you can between now and June 11. And then whatever you can between June 12 and Nov. 5.

Participating in our process — not just by voting for or against someone that others have chosen — is a privilege extended to all. And it is a guard against Plato’s admonition that those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are not.