Page 3 - eagle100820

October 8, 2020 ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS OF MICHIGAN PAGE 3

PLYMOUTH
PLYMOUTH

Guiding hand

League of Women Voters Election

Guides delivered to local libraries

Julie Brown The League's Vote 411.org site offers
Special Writer Nov. 3 election information, supplement-
ing the print Voter Guide.
Gathering as volunteers isn't new for “I wish everybody would appreciate
the League of Women Voters (LWV) of how local elections impact their lives.
Northwest Wayne County, but last Friday Those are the people that can impact our
was especially busy. Members gathered in lives. The township officials are the ones
a garage of one volunteer to assemble that determine when your garbage gets
Voter Guides. picked up,” Bowman said.
“It's been a lot of work but it's satisfying The LWV of Northwest Wayne County
to know people use them. There's no spin hosts candidate forums, too, and is using
on them,” noted Paula Bowman, a Zoom now due to the pandemic. “We Paula Bowman displays the voter guides of the League of Women Voters of Northwest
Plymouth Township resident and LWV of have had plenty of work to do remotely Wayne County now available in local libraries.
Northwest Wayne County president. and in print,” said Bowman, retired for mom, now 93. included in our guide,” said Bowman,
She and other League volunteers about a year from office administration “She got me involved all those many adding less space is allocated for non-
delivered print Voter Guides through work. years ago,” said Bowman, adding that contested races for judge.
Monday to area libraries for distribution. “When people are making sound deci- retiring “has given me more time to vol- The League of Women Voters has a
“Seniors especially really rely on sions about who represents them we all unteer.” She said she is proud of the work limited budget which determines some
these,” noted Bowman of the print guides, benefit. That is a benefit to all of us,” said to educate voters since the founding of decisions on Voter Guide space, she said.
which include both state and local races Bowman, also a vice president of the state the League in 1920, the same year as The 34th District Court, which covers
and issues. “We did print more than we League of Women Voters. She's been vol- national women's suffrage in the U.S. Romulus and serves Belleville, also has a
usually do. We expect them to go fast.” unteering about 25 years thanks to her Also proud is Carrie Moon-Dupree of contested race, as does the Wayne County
Canton Township, the LWV Northwest Circuit Court.
Wayne County vice president of Voter The Michigan Supreme Court candi-
Service who said she is confident the date information includes who those can-
League is “providing accurate, unbiased didates were nominated by, she said.
information.” She's a three-year member Cities this Nov. 3 have fewer races than
and retired from Presbyterian Villages of townships do, and Bowman appreciates
Michigan as an administrator. that candidates are willing to serve. “Yet
Bowman notes Canton has three there are still people wanting to be
school districts, meaning its Voter Guide' involved,” she noted of school boards.
is larger than some others. The 2018 measure to allow no-reason
“We cover all the school districts,” said absentee voting, along with online voter
Bowman of Wayne-Westland, Plymouth- registration, has “compressed time” for
Canton, Northville, Van Buren, Garden the League and for municipal clerks, she
City, Redford Union, and South Redford, added.
“because people need that information That's true too for endorsements, such
more than, say, about the President” of as by labor unions and others. Some vot-
the U.S. ers have relied on endorsements, said
She notes during League candidate Bowman, whose organization doesn't
forums many parents asked about in-per- endorse candidates.
son classroom learning. “We devote a lot “Here people who rely on those
of time and effort to those races,” said endorsements are looking for them,” she
Bowman of boards of education, agreeing added. She notes information from candi-
Volunteers including, clockwise starting bottom left, Lois Baughman, Pat Bindas, Ting they handle large budgets. dates will be ongoing, and that organiza-
Westra and Judy Westra, work on packaging the League of Women Voters guides for The Michigan Supreme Court is a con- tion candidate forums can be viewed
distribution. tested race Nov. 3. “That race is definitely online.