Driving Change in La Plata: Why Commuters Must Vote on May 6th
By: Paul Guttenberg, Candidate for Town Council Ward I
I have been a commuter from Charles County to Norther Virginia and Washington DC for 27 years. On average in Charles County we have among the longest commutes in the country and for me ultimately over time it burned me out. So I can relate to your experience of juggling responsibilities at work and straining to support the needs of your family and yourself outside of work.
La Plata’s election on May 6th is critically important for people who commute, and it often takes just a few votes to decide the outcome of our towns elections. That means every resident who votes can make a real difference.
By voting, you can help increase accountability and ensure that our elected leaders address the issues that are important to all of us who call La Plata home.
Imagine this:
Tell the boss you will be in late on Tuesday May 6th, then join your partner or a friend for coffee, after that head over to Town Hall together and cast your ballots.
Here's why I believe commuters should "slow down" and take the time to vote locally this Tuesday May 6th:
Local decisions directly impact your daily life, even your commute: While you spend a significant part of your day outside of La Plata, the quality of life, infrastructure, and services you come home to are all shaped by the people you elect to our town government.
Think About The Traffic Congestion and Road Planning in La Plata. I recognize that past local decisions have contributed to these problems. That's why I'm advocating for a prioritized list of local road projects, developers contributing more impact fees for our local road needs, and an updated town transportation plan. As a commuter, these road and traffic conditions directly affect you.
Growth: Local decisions determine our priorities for local laws and how quickly our town grows. This growth impacts infrastructure like roads and utilities, which affects traffic and the cost of services you rely on.
Essential Services: like our drinking water, sewage treatment, police, and trash collection are managed and funded right here at the local level. Decisions about how much funding, the capacity, and the efficiency of these services directly affect all of us who live here, including commuters. I believe we need to address our aging infrastructure, regardless of new development, and that requires thoughtful planning and management.
Local Police: Even community policing practices are decided locally. I strongly support keeping our local Police Department because local control means better responsiveness, which impacts the safety and sense of community you experience when you're home.
Read my article about why Local Police Matter, comparing La Plata’s Police Force with the County Sheriff.
Low Voter Turnout Gives a Few People a Lot of Power: Historically, only a small percentage of La Plata residents vote in local elections. For example, in the 2021 Ward II election, just 4 votes made the difference. This means a small group is making important decisions that affect everyone, including you as a commuter.
When More People Vote, Our Elected Leaders are More Accountable: I firmly believe that when more residents participate in elections, it puts greater pressure on our Town Council to listen and respond to the concerns of the public. This means that issues important to you as a commuter, like traffic or the cost of town services, are more likely to be taken seriously and addressed when more of us vote.
Voting is Your Chance to Influence What Happens Here
My plan for engaging residents includes encouraging more people to vote and real ways we can make useful information available to you so you may discover the local issues you want to engage with at a time when they can have an impact on decisions to be made. I believe this gives the Town Council better information to make decisions that align with what our community wants. Even if your busy schedule or long commute makes volunteering difficult, you can still make your voice heard by casting your vote.
I hope you can find the time to vote this coming Tuesday May 6th.
For Better Town Government We Must Increase La Plata’s Voter Turn-out For Our Local Elections
Please Vote on May 6th. You can find contact and candidate information for all the general election candidates on the town website. Please also share this information with your friends and family, and encourage them to vote.
Many candidates are also active on Facebook especially within the La Plata Community Group.
A “Vote Local” Plan For Town Council & Mayor
1. Plan To Vote:
Please Plan A Time on Tuesday May 6th You Will Vote at Town Hall.
(Between 7am and 8pm)
2. Share Election Information:
Please Share Election Information with Your Family, Friends & Neighbors Who Live in the Town of La Plata. www.voteguttenberg.org/vote-local/
3. Cast Your Ballot On Tuesday, May 6th 2025.
Voting occurs in person at the La Plata Town Hall, located at 305 Queen Anne Street, between 7am and 8pm.
I ask that you consider voting for me as your Town Council representative from Ward I.
More than anything I hope you take the time to vote, and that you encourage others to do the same. When residents vote in larger numbers, it increases the emphasis for elected town leaders to engage and respond to concerns expressed by the public.
Thank you.
Respectfully,
Paul Guttenberg, Candidate for La Plata Town Council Ward I
