Letter from Hudi Podolsky

Cardinals Win Over Crows

The votes are in. On April 26, Earth Festival visitors at Milford Central School voted for the cardinal over the crow as their candidate for Otsego County bird by a decisive 92-58 vote. The League of Women Voters set up this playful voting activity to draw people to our table at this well-attended event. Our goal was to engage them in conversations about the League, about the ways we support voting, and about our positions and activism on recycling and other important natural resources issues. What we hadn’t envisioned is how much fun people would have voting, and what interesting conversations we would have with them about birds! Our citizens know their birds and have very strong feelings about them.

The question for most voters came down to a choice between brains and beauty, although some voters had specific beefs about crow behavior. Many voters said it was hard to choose, as it sometimes is in real elections. A few voters said they didn’t want either candidate to win—a familiar problem. And one person who abstained took us to task for not allowing a write-in candidate!

These light-hearted conversations led to more serious ones about the importance of voting and the challenges of maintaining democracy. We discussed the League’s non-partisan mission to defend democracy and empower voters. Our voters proudly displayed their “I Voted” stickers, and many took a piece of candy to remind them how sweet it is to vote.

We’re grateful to the Otsego County Conservation Association, Milford Central School, and all the wonderful organizations and presenters who made this such a rich community event.

We had a great time celebrating Earth Day, and we hope our voters will consider the health of our planet when it comes time to cast a real vote.

Hudi Podolsky
League of Women Voters Cooperstown Area