The earliest memory I have of voting is seeing my father come home with one of those "I voted" stickers. As I got older, I can remember two lessons my father taught me in regards to voting. The first came in 1996 during the presidential election. I was not old enough to vote yet, but I remember asking my dad who he voted for. "None of your business" was his reply.

The other lesson I learned from my father was in offering a complaint about a politician. In the course of my complaining, my father asked me if I had voted. I told him, "no." Then he politely told me that I had no reason or excuse to complain.

In the coming weeks, Knightdale residents will be electing a mayor and town council members. As I think about the late Tip O'Neill's insight "all politics is local," it saddens me to think that we should only expect a 20 percent turnout. Whether our mayor is Jun Lee or Russell Killen, whether we have new council members or returning council members, they will need our support.

All who are running need an entire community coming out to vote and sending the message that this and all elections matter.

Adrian L. Dixon

Knightdale