Vote for person, not party

North Augusta City Council elections are approaching; on April 29 your vote will count. I want to address an issue in the world of politics.

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People vote for the party and not for the person. Many times a person's political preference is based on what their parents believed, and they have little understanding of the party's beliefs, positions or platforms.

On a local level, the positions of Democrats and Republicans differs only slightly, so citizens should evaluate the person's abilities for the office.

If political parties indicate the way individuals will cast votes, then campaigning should cease, and no one should turn in their names for candidacy. If it is really the name of the party influencing you, why bother knowing the candidates' platforms? Everyone always talks about change and "new blood," but how can this be possible if votes are based on friendships and associations? Sad, but true, we cannot expect something different when traditions will not be broken.

I encourage everyone to actually pay attention to new candidates running for city council. Please look beyond your country-club buddies or even your pew neighbor in church. You might discover someone who has a mission to serve the community. This is the true purpose of a city council election - and any election for that matter. Step away from your comfort zone; vote for the person and not the party.

Lettye L. Smith, North Augusta, S.C.