The League of Women Voters of Mercer County

Principles Positions Officers

About Us The League of Women Voters of Mercer County is a nonpartisan political membership organization whose purpose is to promote participation of citizens in government and influence public policy through education and advocacy. The League does not support or oppose any political party or candidate for elective office. Members are encouraged to participate actively in the party of their choice. However, Board members are excluded from public participation in partisan politics. The Principles of the LWV "The purpose of the League of Women Voters of the United States is to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation of citizens in government and to act on selected governmental issues." The League of Women Voters believes in representative government and in the individual liberties established in the Constitution of the United States.The League of Women Voters believes that: Democratic government depends upon the informed and active participation of its citizens. Every citizen should be protected in his or her right to vote; every person should have access to free public education which provides equal opportunity for all; no person or group should suffer legal, economic or administrative discrimination. Efficient and economical government requires competent personnel, the clear assignment of responsibility, adequate financing, and coordination among the different agencies and levels of government. Responsible government should be responsive to the will of the people, maintain an equitable and flexible system of taxation, promote the conservation and development of natural resources in the public interest, share in the solutions of economic and social problems which affect the general welfare, promote a stable and expanding economy, and adopt domestic policies which facilitate the solution of international problems. Cooperation with other nations is essential in the search for solutions to world problems, and the development of international organization and international law is imperative in the promotion of world peace. What is the Purpose of the League? "The purpose of the League of Women Voters of the United States is to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation of citizens in government and to act on selected governmental issues." What is the Political Policy of the League? "The League shall not support or oppose any political party nor any candidate." So What Does All This Mean? It means: LET PEOPLE KNOW. MAKE PEOPLE CARE. HELP PEOPLE ACT. The purpose of the LWV is to create in citizens a sense of responsibility for knowing about governmental problems and doing something about them. Through study and action on issues affected by government and through its services to voters, the League seeks to encourage the informed citizen who actively participates in government. The League works in the public interest. Activities are not limited to members; the League constantly seeks to reach out into the community. What Do We Do? The activities of the League are as varied as the demands of a complex society, but they tend to fall into the broad areas of: service to voters, study of issues that leads to efforts to influence legislation, and public interest "watchdogging" of our government at work.Our members do research in areas as diverse as international economic policy and local recreation facilities, observe the meeting of public bodies, and prepare and distribute nonpartisan pre-election material on candidates and issues. The League prepares factual publications on complex, controversial subjects and, at times, even goes to court in the public interest. Behind all of this remains the goal of informed, effective citizenry and a responsible government. Who Decides What the League Does? The League is organized to respond to the geographical realities of functioning government and to give its members every chance to take an active part in all League decision and activities. It is the grassroots membership that determines policies at all levels of League organization.Grassroots membership means each and every individual member of the LWV. From local League annual meetings to national convention, it is the members who make the policy decisions of the League - how it is to be run and by whom. Officers and boards of directors carry out these decisions. Who Can Join? Any US citizen over 18, male or female, may become a voting member of the League. For younger people or non-citizens, associate membership is available. Membership information is available on-line. Return to Top Positions of the LWV of Mercer County Education The League of Women Voters of Mercer County maintains that further cooperation among school districts is a positive approach to offering a better selection of educational opportunities. Zoning The League of Women Voters of Mercer County supports zoning with Mercer County that promotes and facilitates the public health, safety and general welfare of the community. Zoning should: Adequately protect against overcrowding of the population. Protect the environment. Plan for recreational and green spaces. Protect farmland and agricultural activities. Promote beneficial commercial development. Provide for traffic control. Discourage indiscriminate sprawl of commercial areas. Library The League of Women Voters of Mercer County endorses the concept of a county-wide library system and further would support a county-tax increase should it be necessary. Return to Top Officers of the LWV of Mercer County Leadership Team (2012) Lyn Weidner Legislative Interviews/Debates Pat Woodings Program Planning Peggy Ruggles Voter Information Rosann Rookey Liaison to State/National League Treasurer - 2 year term (2012) Karen Kosheba Co-Secretaries - 2 year term (2012) Alyce Parrish, Dorothy Bieber Board of Directors - 2 year term (2012) Vivian Evans, Gladys Lavery Board of Directors - 2 year term (2012) Ann Becker, Dorothy Bieber, Barbara Brown, Sally Goodwin, Connie McGinnis, Alyce Parrish, Rosann Rookey, Sam Woodings Nominating Committee - 1 year term (2012) To be announced Return to Top Return to Home Page Please send any comments or questions to Emerson F. Heald, LWVMC Webmaster. Last updated 28 February 2012