“My name is Andrew Graves, and I’m running for D.A.”

It’s interesting how one phrase, repeated enough times, becomes a part of the person who speaks it. After a single day of going door-to-door with him, Andrew Graves was no longer just my uncle, he was my uncle who is running for 119th district attorney.

Over the course of nearly four hours, my father, two sisters, uncle and I covered easily 4 miles of San Angelo, TX, informing residents of Andrew’s numerous qualifications to the office. I can now name all of these qualifications by heart, accompanied by an impressive impersonation of Andrew’s manner and vocal patterns.

But while I may mock him, the experience of campaigning with my uncle did open my eyes to several things that I had previously overlooked. Of special note among my observations was the importance of local government.

This election will directly affect the people living in District 119, perhaps more so than the upcoming presidential election. In short, if a person is arrested, the DA will, directly or indirectly, be involved in their arrest, indictment and trial. This makes the position of district attorney quite important in their area. However, these elections seem to be met with an alarming degree of  apathy.

On our epic trek of planting signs and taking handshakes, we came across numerous residents who seemed not only unaware of the identities of the candidates, but unaware of the impending primary which will determine who holds a very important office in their area.

This is not meant as a rebuke to the natives of San Angelo, but as an observation. In a year with numerous presidential candidates, most of whom are familiar to the public, it is easy to disregard the election of a local district attorney. 

Canyon residents likely should not be invested in the 119th district attorney election. I would be unaware of Andrew Graves’ campaign unless I knew him as my uncle who can quote entire episodes of the show “Cheers” from memory. Yet it is still necessary to remember the importance of local elections.

From the attitude of city police to the funding of the Parks and Recreation department, those who we place in power immediately above ourselves have perhaps the greatest impact on day-to-day life.

In Super Tuesday voting today, I encourage voters not only to cast their ballots for the presidential primary, but also for the elections that will influence their lives the most.