One vote sent Thomas Jefferson to the White House in place of Aaron Burr. One vote gave women the franchise in 1920. And, but for one vote in 1876, President Rutherford B. Hayes might never have taken the oath of office. “That one deciding vote might someday be yours,” said Ellen Kern, a representative for Pennsylvania Senator Pat Browne’s office at a political forum at Laub Lounge on January 24. The event was sponsored by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee and the NCC Alumni Association as a part of the College’s “Vote the Dream” tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

In addition to Kern, state representatives Karen Beyer, Joe Brennan, Craig Dally, Bob Freeman, Rich Grucela, Julie Harhart, and Steve Samuelson emphasized the importance of voting and appealed to the audience, mostly in their late teens and early twenties, to vote. Jeff Warren, chief legal assistant to Senator Lisa Boscola also participated. Bethlehem Water

^{Pictured l-r:  Ellen Kern, Jeff Warren, Karen Beyer, and Joe Brennan.}


Authority Director Steve Repasch, a Northampton Community College alumnus, organized the event, and NCC Advising/Career Link Specialist Marcia Theadford moderated the discussion.

Even if not as dramatic as an election turned by a single ballot, voting is essential, all members of the panel agreed. “The life of everyone in this room is impacted by decisions their legislators make,” Brennan said. Issues before the state government include health care, energy, education, and tax reform, Dally pointed out. Quoting Winston Churchill that, “democracy is the worst form of government except all the others,” Freeman reminded listeners of the fire hoses and clubs African Americans and their allies endured when fighting for the right of all Americans to vote. “It took many individuals coming together to peacefully effect change. Every generation is called to do its part,” he said.

What’s more, Grucela said, “when young people get involved, politicians become energized.” Noting that 41% of eligible voters avoided the polls in the 2004 presidential election, Samuelson urged listeners to be the generation that raises this figure.

Interestingly, many of the panelists started their political activity in their youths. Boscola, whose mother was in the audience, was inspired by trips to the polls with her mother. Freeman volunteered for a political campaign when he was sixteen and ran for state legislature when he was 22. In 33 years, he has voted in 66 elections, not missing one. Samuelson has voted in
^{Pictured l-r:  Bob Freeman, Rich Grucela, and Steve Samuelson}

59 elections and, along with Grucela, wants to extend the franchise in state primaries to 17-year-olds who will turn 18 before the related presidential election. A bill on the legislature’s agenda promotes this.

After the discussion, audience members posed questions, such as what effect voting in state elections has on national issues. Harhart answered that the effect is great, especially since state legislatures are now grappling with dilemmas neglected by the federal government. One such area, she said, is health care coverage. Another audience member questioned the fact that primaries are held in different states at different times. Although the state House of Representatives voted to move Pennsylvania’s primary up to February, the Senate defeated the measure. Nevertheless, Samuelson said, late-voting states may have a decisive impact on close presidential races such as the upcoming one.

Yes, voting is vital, panelists held. Harhart, who won an election by only 63 votes, commented that “we don’t always win, but we have a voice. The important thing is for our voices to be heard.”