Thursday, September 24, 2015 6:56 am

Three and a half percent of Milton residents able to vote made their way to the polls for Tuesday's primary election.

And it's a sure bet the other 96 and a half percent grumbled about the government last night during dinner.

One longtime town resident blamed it on the good ole boy network that they think has taken over the town and left most people feeling disenfranchised from the system.

Then there was the one resident who said they thought the shift of polling place from the Emma Ramsey Center to the Milton Assembly of God Church wasn't publicized enough.

Even the press barely noticed the election. Except for a few Robert Graham signs scattered about, we barely saw anything resembling an election.

Of course it is just a primary, but let's back up six months. Remember no one even attempted to run against the incumbent, appointed selectman.

Now that's nothing against Selectman Rawson. Not at all.

But the point is that competition in the political arena is necessary to produce the best candidates, to help shine a light on different issues where different voices can be heard.

If Milton could harness the spirit and energy it did to defeat the landfill, why can't they continue it for all the issues that are important for this town.

We'll bet a dime to a doughnut more folks worked on putting up the Milton Beach playground this summer than voted on Tuesday.

What up with that?

If you can get involved to build a playground, you can get involved to build a town.

If you can get involved to stop a landfill, you can get involved to help keep local government on the straight and narrow and accountable.

Believe me if you don't, no one else will.

- HT