Early Presidential Primary.

JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri Secretary of State Matt Blunt says that balloting on February 3, 2004, for the Presidential Preference Primary will offer two crucial benefits for Missouri. First, the people will have a vital opportunity to shape national politics by voting for the presidential candidate they support. Second, because of the early date set by the new Missouri law, the state’s decision can carry national significance.

When filing began on October 21, candidates or their representatives were able to file their declarations in Jefferson City. Presidential candidate filings will end at 5:00 p.m. on November 18, 2003.

Blunt was a leading proponent of the February presidential preference primary, citing the importance of direct voter participation, particularly for the nation’s highest office, and Missouri’s strong history of voting for the winning candidates for President. With only a single exception, every President since 1904 has carried Missouri at the November general election.

The upcoming presidential ballot will be Missouri’s third such election, but the first with an early date and an opportunity to be prominent nationally.

The 2002 Missouri election reform bill changed the presidential date from March to February, in a bid to position Missouri as an influential early voting state. Typically, in the presidential selection process, later-voting states are passed over by candidates because the nominee has become clear, or the field of candidates has narrowed dramatically.

Missouri will share the February 3 date with Oklahoma, Arizona, South Carolina and Delaware.

Blunt said: "I strongly encourage every Missourian of proper age to register to vote, and to come to the polls on February 3. Helping select the next President of the United States is the best possible way to launch a consistent commitment to meeting one’s most basic civic responsibility, voting at each election."

In order to register, residents may contact the Board of Elections or county clerk in their area, or the Elections Division of Blunt’s office at 1-800-NOW-VOTE. Voter registration for the February 3 presidential primary will close at 5:00 on Wednesday, January 7, 2004.

I suppose the traditional spring and fall elections were scheduled around the country’s agricultural schedule. Like the traditional school year, today’s life style is less dependent on the seasons.

It still seems strange to me to have an election in the middle of winter. I’m sure that Missouri will get some publicity out of the early vote for the presidential primary, I just don’t know if that should be a high priority when it comes to settin’ a date for votin’.

I suppose eventually folks will get used to the midwinter vote and not think much of it. Maybe, if the competition for earlier dates continues among the states, we will be able to vote in the November election a year ahead. Be a lot simpler and save some costs too.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Carthage Printing

THIS IS A HAMMER

By Samantha Mazzotta

Cleaning and Storing Tools

Q: Last fall, I put away my outdoor furniture and lawn-care equipment in the garage, which I know is sealed from leaks. But when I took them out this spring, many of the metal tools and blades were rusted, and some of the wooden handles had cracked. How did this happen if the tools were protected from wet weather? — Joe L., Cleveland

A: Two things occurred last winter that accelerated rust and warping of your gardening tools: high humidity, and unprotected metal and wood. Even a dry storage area can be affected by outside dampness and excessive cold (or heat), especially if air circulation is poor. And not cleaning or protecting tools properly before storage can help excess humidity do its work.

Before putting away lawn-care equipment, clean it thoroughly and make any needed repairs. This includes larger stuff like the lawn mower, tiller and anything else that digs dirt or trims vegetation.

Make quick work of really dirty items (like shovels, spades and hoes) by lining them up in the driveway and hosing away loose dirt and grass. Scrub off stubborn dirt with mild soap and water, and tackle existing rust with steel wool. Rinse and dry completely. To go one step further, disinfect blades by wiping them down with denatured alcohol (according to Ace Hardware, this protects against contamination of plants in their early stages from material still sticking to the blades).

Drain the lawn mower’s gas tank (dispose of the old gas properly), remove the spark plug, and remove the cutting blades. Clean the body of the mower, scraping away matted grass from the undercarriage. Clean and sharpen the blades. Purchase a new spark plug and store it near the mower. Next spring, install the blades and new plug and refill the gas tank a couple weeks prior to the first cutting session.