As a student of politics, longtime community volunteer and former borough council member, mayor, county commissioner at-large and current school director, it was disturbing to review a local 2017 Lehigh County May primary voters guide. Despite the apparent enthusiasm, especially on the Democratic side, resulting from the 2016 general election outcome, the number of unfilled local candidate positions in both parties is surprising and disappointing.

Local elections are as important as any other election. These elections are of politicians who govern our boroughs, townships, schools and county property taxes. Put people in who want to buy anything they see shiny, and your taxes are certain to rise. As an elected part-time official for 20 years, I have seen well-intended people with that OPM (Other People’s Money) impulse spend tax dollars when they could have resisted.

It is near stunning to see the number of positions this year without candidates in both parties. Open mayor, open county commissioner seats, empty council and school board candidates are found throughout the county. We then rely on write-in candidates. Write-ins are typically less vetted than announced candidates. Thankfully, it is easier to complete a write-in effort with the new voting machines. We may see a trend of increased write-ins as more voters become independent and move away from the anachronistic candidate application process.

I attended the phenomenal, emotionally moving, Jan. 21 Woman’s March and the recent March for Science in Washington, D.C. At both events, the charge was to urge people to get involved in elected politics and run for office to change the corrupt political processes that have evolved as a cancer on our democracy. The excitement at the rallies was palpable.

With the Citizens United decision that allows for massive amounts of money of unknown origin to unfairly skew elections along with gerrymandering of political districts, a plausible case can be made we are losing our democracy. This gerrymandering occurs at the county, state and federal levels. It is an issue that must be resolved.

Regarding money, it was President Franklin Delano Roosevelt who said in the 1930s that “ ... government by organized money is just as dangerous as government by organized mob.” We are seeing this government by organized money today because of the Citizens United ruling.

As a Democratic primary candidate for the U.S. House, 15th District, in May 2018, I am greatly concerned about the increased stifling of the political process. In a nation that is experiencing rapid technological change, we need turnover in our elected offices, new people and fresh ideas. We can no longer have men sit in full-time elected office for two decades or more - thereby becoming part of the problem and not the solution.

In my hometown of Coplay, in 2013, we had a vibrant, contested primary election with numerous candidates for council and, for the first time in decades, a contested mayor primary. One newly elected council member after the election called the contested election a “circus.”

In this year’s primary, we have four seats up for council and only four candidates, with no Republicans for council or mayor. The election is already decided. I call this an election “desert.” Elected seats need competition as those unopposed politicians become less sensitive to voters’ needs, more complacent and more likely to drift toward corruption and cronyism. A lack of candidates also depresses voter turnout.

President Franklin Roosevelt, again in the 1930s, said there are politicians who believe if the electorate is only small enough, they have a better chance of winning. Eighty-five-plus years later, there remain politicians who seek the smaller electorate, so they can win. They are misguided.

What can be done now to remedy this unfortunate situation?

First of all, we need to generate a large voter turnout.

Second, if you are a grandparent or parent, take your grandkids or kids with you when you vote. After you vote, take them for ice cream or perhaps dinner and speak with them about the sacred right voting is. Tell them there are politicians who want to take this right away.

Third, stop talking about all politicians being corrupt and that there is nothing we can do to change the country. We, collectively, can and will change the country.

Fourth, take time to learn about the issues of the day so that high-ranking elected officials or any politician cannot lie to you.

The nation depends on an informed citizenry. When you buy a car, you look at Carfacts, the Blue Book, etc. You prepare for your purchase as you know if you are well informed, you will have a better outcome. Apply the same concepts to your voting. Prepare, learn the issues and understand that if you are not prepared, you may have buyer’s remorse.

I experienced election buyer’s remorse one time in my life. I learned from this mistake as a young man in 1972 and never let it happen again. I voted for Richard Nixon. Within two years, I celebrated his departure from the White House as he tried to avoid inevitable impeachment.

When you catch a child telling you a lie, you point it out and counsel the child not to lie. Some folks call it a sin; others know, sin or not, it is not the right thing to do. Unfortunately, some of our elected officials, even the highest in the land, do not follow this basic moral truth. The lying culture being developed in the highest office is extremely corrosive to our country both at home and abroad. You have the direct power to stop this disgusting practice.

Register to vote. Vote. Take your kids and grandkids with you when you vote. Learn the issues. Run for office. Participate in the entire election process.

Resolve for 2018 that we have an abundance of candidates that keep elected officials honest and work for all of us, not just the special interests.

Bill Leiner Jr. is a former borough council member and mayor of Coplay, a former Lehigh County commissioner at-large and a current Whitehall-Coplay School Board director. He is a candidate for the U.S. Congressional seat representing the 15th District in 2018.