This beat was definitely one that pushed me out of my comfort zone. I used to stay out of politics simply because I felt like it was an easy way to start an argument. As I have grown older, I have realized that it's healthy and crucial to talk about politics, especially local politics. I also found that it's equally important to understand others' opinions and keep an open mind when exploring new topics. 

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I learned through this beat that there is no reason to complain if you aren't getting involved in your local politics. Local politics are just as important as government politics especially because local politics affect your hometown directly. 

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For this beat, I visited a voting site, the local news station, KWWL, on election night, and heard from Jenny Leeper, the Vice President of the Cedar Falls School Board, Thomas Blanford, and Rob Green whom both ran for mayor. The stories attached highlight the Cedar Falls School Board election and an overview of the Mayoral election.

 

Click on the photos below to read the stories attached and click on the video to hear BlackHawk County Audtior, Grant Veeder, touch on how the names appear on ballots today.