Editorial: Get out and vote this Tuesday

Now that “The Sopranos” and “The Wire” have bid farewell, they have passed the torch to “Mad Men” as most important American television series on the air.

AMC’s drama is superficially about a New York advertising agency in the early 1960s, but series creator Matthew Weiner uses this premise as a prism to examine American culture at its most tumultuous.

A running theme throughout the background of the first season was the Kennedy-Nixon presidential race. Everyone knew things were about to change, but nobody had any idea what those changes would be.

There is a subtle, but unmistakable tension that drives “Mad Men.” It’s a tension that can only come from the inability to take control of one’s surroundings.

Nothing could stop the cultural shift that hit 1960s America. Those who refused to acknowledge that shift and adapt to what was going on were left feeling disillusioned and lost.

This fall, America faces yet another critical turning point, with the Obama-McCain election serving as the backdrop.

There’s a sense that this is yet another turning point in American culture. The only way to keep up is to get informed and vote.

Of course, Green Valley has its own set of elections coming up this Tuesday. Our community’s primary elections will be taking place, with many issues at stake.

Locally, there are some important contested races.

Democratic Pima County Supervisors Sharon Bronson and Ramon Valadez face challenges from Donna Branch-Gilby and Sahuarita Heights resident Robert Robuck respectively, and issues have been raised in those campaigns about voting integrity and where the county spends its money.

Republicans in Legislative District 30 have a choice of four candidates for two state Representative slots: Frank Antenori, Sharon Collins, David Gowan and Doug Sposito. Those candidates will face unopposed Sahuarita Democrat Andrea Dalessandro in November in a race to replace two outgoing Republican representatives.

Statewide, there are contested races for the Arizona Corporation Commission, which regulates water companies and other utilities, as well as financial companies and which plays a role in energy policy and could have a say in local water pipelines. Five Republicans and four Democrats are running for ACC slots and the winners will face off in November.

We owe it to ourselves to delve into the issues and vote for the candidates we believe possess the proper leadership qualities to keep this area moving forward.

Green Valley will always be one of the most active, informed and driven communities with regard to local politics. Tuesday should serve as a great day to highlight this area’s strengths as we come together to take control of our future.

As Southern Arizona’s demographics shift and new issues rise to the surface, it’s vital to take a proactive approach.

There’s no possible way to overstate the importance of participation in the local political processes.

We all have issues that inspire impassioned reactions. Without participation, there can be no debate, which leads to stagnation.

While disagreements between voters may arise on specific issues and candidates, we can all agree that abstaining from the process serves no purpose. We’re all in this together, and we all want what’s best for Green Valley.

So when Tuesday rolls around, find the closest polling station and cast your ballot. As these changes take hold and Green Valley moves forward, it’s important to stay ahead of the curve.

Those who sit this one out risk feeling disillusioned and lost, much like AMC’s fictional advertising executives in 1960.