At most age levels, tryouts are conducted where the player’s skill can be evaluated and assessed for position assignment. From my experience with youth sports, it doesn’t take long for a coach to identify which kids have at least some natural talent and those who do not. The decision of who to place on the mound in the pivotal leadership position of pitcher is his/her sole responsibility. Coaches have several players to pick from, but only one can toss that ball towards the plate on opening day.

Much is being said and written about the open primary ballot petition measure. Last week’s ISJ column by Karole Honas is a good example. She made some astute comments, but I would like to apply my sports analogy to the issue she addressed.

Karole describes the situation where she wants to vote for a Republican governor candidate, but she also likes a great Democrat who is running for a legislative office in her district. With the current system, she can only vote for one, not both, in the primary.

That is only partially true. She and other voters want to cast their mark for “the best person for the job.” The general election gives everyone that chance. As a Republican, she can still support her chosen Democratic candidate during the primary season with a yard sign, word of mouth or even dare to financially contribute to their campaign. However, some may question her party loyalty as a result of those actions.

In her first paragraph, she laments that being asked by poll workers to declare her party affiliation in order to receive a ballot takes away her privacy. That is only partially accurate. This question, in our current system, is necessary to ensure proper voting procedure and accuracy. It is a simple effort to avoid fraudulent votes. Her vote in the booth is still completely private and always will be.

The deadline for the open primary/ranked choice voting (RCV) petition drive is April 30. I find it interesting that I have not seen any evidence of this petition circulating in Franklin County. As in most statewide political issues, we have again been ignored.

I would have likely signed the petition because I believe in ballot initiatives and the power they give the rank-and-file voters. I feel ballot initiatives are part of the “checks and balances” I learned about in high school government class. But … just like Karole, I have a choice in the general election and my vote would then be a NO.

An issue I have with this initiative is that it combines two ideas: Open primaries and RCV. I would prefer it being more singular in wording and nature. The courts have already banged the gavel on this question, but not without confusion and re-wording by the Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador.

Election history in my lifetime has been the primary/general format. As a youngster from politically active parents, I learned that each party would vote to choose their candidate in a primary election to then run against the chosen candidate from other parties. That made sense to me then and still does today.

Sounds a lot like the coach choosing their starting pitcher or quarterback, doesn’t it? That is how I feel it should be. The opposing team’s coach doesn’t have a say in who starts the game or enters the game at a later time. Each team chooses their own players.

The Republican party voters are the “coach” of their team, as are the affiliated members of the Democrats or the Libertarians, etc. They should be the ones who choose their “starter.” The campaign trail should provide plenty of opportunities for us “coaches” or voters to evaluate the candidates’ skills and ability to lead.

We have more unaffiliated registered voters in the state than ever before. Franklin County is no different with over 900 voters now listed with the county clerk as “unaffiliated.”

I have heard from many of these voters regarding their reasons for unaffiliating from the traditional parties. I have to honestly say that I can understand some of their reasons. But not all of them. For example, “my vote doesn’t count ... the outcome is already determined.” My reply was, “You are right! Your vote didn’t count … because YOU DIDN’T CAST IT!”

I went one step further to tell them that if they kept using that excuse, then there may be a day where the voting rights we enjoy disappear!

In my opinion, these excuses and attitudes do not mean we should abandon the system we currently have in favor of an open, no-rules format just to include them. It means that those voters left their respective parties for a reason and the party leadership should listen to their concerns and address them.

I have said this before … we need a bigger table, not a taller fence. If your business is pizza, and you are worried the new national chain coming to town is going to run you out of business … then make your pizza better … appeal to the customers you are potentially losing.

I acknowledge each party’s right for its members to set their own rules. I also acknowledge that voters can change their affiliation as their feelings, experiences and preferences can be fluid. It is their choice for Republicans or Democrats to leave their party membership rolls. But they need to understand that there is an obvious consequence to that choice.

They also have the choice available to re-affiliate with their chosen party while continuing to call for changes in their party’s rules and platform. To me, the disenfranchised sentiment is on the shoulders of both the parties and the voters.

In the meantime, I stand against the open primary initiative. My team chooses my candidates. My team does need to have more internal unity and team spirit. My team needs to make their brand better and more attractive. Both the offensive and defensive units cannot keep fighting each other, or we will never reach the end zone, home plate or sink a three pointer!