Amid the hustle and bustle of the Belleville Bridge Walk and Taste of Belleville, a very dedicated young woman had more important things on her mind.
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Standing in the 80-degree sun was Van Buren Twp. resident Lori Werner, a 32- year old mother of two.
As Bridge Walkers crossed the finish line into the Taste of Belleville on N. Liberty St., Werner was on the scene, ready to sign up voters for what is rapidly a becoming a campaign with similarities of the 1972 election.
Quietly holding up a hand drawn sign, Werner politely asked walkers if they had registered to vote.
Passionate about the election and politics in general, just "showing up at the polls" doesn't cut it with Werner.
"I don't think you should just check a box and say "I voted.
"Its important to have a reason to vote for someone," Werner said. "It's a small sacrifice to DVR American Idol to tune into the presidential debates and form an opinion before casing a vote. "It's patriotic and the right thing to do."
Attending her first political rally in 2003 during the Kerry vs. Bush campaigns. "It was during the 2004 election when I began to pay close attention to the candidates' positions and issues that were facing both the country as a whole and also within my family," she said.
"This is when my true political views were developed.
Standing in the hot August sun, Werner was greeted with a sense of apathy rather than respect for her efforts.
"I can understand how people are apathetic because many people's first impression of politics is through the 30-second negative TV commercials during the election season," she said. "I can see how people just throw up their hands and think 'I don't know who to believe' and become disinterested.
"I also think that the fact that that electoral college decides the presidency and not the popular vote causes some to think their vote makes no difference."
However, besides the fact that voting does a make a difference, Werner feels it is our responsible duty to ensure we keep living in a free society.
"I do think that it's our responsibility as U.S. citizens to do our due diligence to research each candidate to understand their true positions on issues relevant to your personal situation as well as the country as a whole," she said.
"I would hope that the future of the country is important enough to take time to watch the upcoming presidential debates and do some research on each candidates' website to understand where they stand on issues such as healthcare, the Iraq war, taxes, and energy.
"Its our obligation to exercise our right to vote."
Her commitment to the democratic process kicked into high gear during the last presidential election.
"One of the most memorable parts of the 2004 election season was when I heard the keynote speaker of the Democratic Convention, Barack Obama," she said.
Obama's message of unity and optimism for the country was something that Werner had been longing to hear and a message that she whole-heartedly agreed with.
"Over the past eight years I have been utterly disgusted with the way the country is heading. We have lost our respect in the world, we are financially in ruin, and our politics are divisive," she said.
She continued, "Rather than finding common ground, we live in an 'us vs. them' mentality both within Washington (Republicans vs Democrats) and around the world.
The message she heard from Obama during the 2004 Convention continued to stick in her head.
"Last year I read his book 'The Audacity of Hope' and shortly thereafter he announced his candicacy for president," she said. "During this year's primary season I watched every Republican and Democratic debate and got a feel for each candidates' views and plans for the country."
But it is this year's Presidential election that caused the politicized Werner to take to the streets to get local voters registered.
"I have become the most active during this current election," she said. "I began to volunteer for Obama by making phone calls to voters from my home in other states since the Michigan primary was not recognized by the DNC."
"I also attended a fund-raiser in Ypsilanti for Obama during the primaries. I am obviously thrilled that Obama is the Democratic nominee and since clinching the Democratic nomination I have been volunteering at the local Obama office in Canton doing voter registration and phone banking. "
Obama, much like George McGovern in 1972, politically motivates younger voters.
"I have seen a lot of young people volunteering and I definitely think this election has inspired a new generation of voters," she said. "However within my own peer group, there are not very many people that are actively involved beyond just voting."
Werner has been volunteering for the Obama campaign but does not work for them in her spare time. For right now, signing up voters, however they choose to vote is of the most importance.
"I hope to become more politically active on a local level within Van Buren Township and at the Belleville DDA in the coming year." she said.
Until then, Werner will push ahead, registering one voter at a time.
To register to vote in Belleville, the City Clerk is Diana Kollmeyer, at the Belleville Municipal Bldg, 6 Main St. at Five Points.
In Van Buren Twp. the Twp. Clerk is Joannie Payne at the Charter Twp. of Van Buren Hall, 46425 Tyler Road and in Sumpter Twp., the Twp. Clerk is Clarence Hoffman, Jr. at Sumpter Twp. Hall, 23480 Sumpter Road.
Contact Staff Writer William Zilke at 697-8255 or at wzilke@heritage.com.
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