Deadline’s today: Do it

If you’re the type to complain about how your local government is run, consider this your notice. You have until the end of business today to put your time and money where your mouth is and run for office. Get your papers filed.

With the filing deadline looming, we looked over the list of candidates who’d jumped into the race as of Thursday afternoon. We were a little disappointed but not entirely surprised

Election season is upon us, but all up and down the ticket are uninspired, sometimes even unchallenged races.

Not that we are criticizing those who have filed their intentions; it’s those who haven’t.

Comparing the list of candidates between APOC and the various city governments, we found few challengers in the Palmer races and very few in races for school board and Houston City Council seats.

We’ve seen this movie once already.

In the races for local state Legislature seats, no Democrats filed to run, except against Bill Stoltze for the Butte/Chugiak seat. The only other contested races are in Palmer, Valdez/Chickaloon and Willow. Sen. Charlie Huggins and Rep. Wes Keller are unchallenged by any other name on the ballot.

That deadline has already passed, but there is still hope in the local races. But it’s up to you. Get out there. Get involved.

Run for school board.

While that board isn’t the flashiest of local bodies — you don’t have a police department to oversee or a ferry ready to be delivered — it’s a big deal.

We need good people watching over that budget, which is among the largest around here. The district is the recipient of the bulk of borough funds as well as state and federal dollars.

Run for Houston City Council.

We know. We wouldn’t want to either. It’s been something of a madhouse up there lately. And the politics have taken something of an ugly, personal turn. But it’s not going to get any better without good people raising their hands and volunteering to run.

Houston has its fair share of people who have strong opinions about their mayor and council. It seems only natural it would also have its fair share of people willing to jump into the political ring. So far we haven’t seen it.

Run for Palmer City Council.

Big things are happening in Palmer. A quick drive through town this summer would provide ample evidence of that. The city is digging up water mains and installing bathrooms. The ice rink is expanding.

And Palmer is not devoid of controversy. We’ll be the first to say we brought it on ourselves but even an oblique mention in these pages of the railroad tracks or the Matanuska Maid property brings comments and complaints galore.

We look forward to what is sure to be a lively election for the Wasilla City Council and Borough Assembly. And we hope those races won’t be the only ones worth watching.