In this dismal economic season, the losers of next Tuesday’s general election may turn out to be the winners, because they won’t have to deal with the crumbling economy and its continuing impact on local governments.

First-term Island County Commissioner John Dean took office in 2007 and enjoyed a few months of learning the ropes in a relaxed setting. Then the economy started tanking, revenues plunged, and Dean and the other two commissioners have been cutting ever since, making no new friends along the way. If Dean, a Democrat, loses to Republican Kelly Emerson, it will be due as much to poor timing than anything else. That goes for the rest of the incumbents on the ballot, from Sen. Patty Murray and Congressman Rick Larsen down to Island County’s elected department heads, all of whom are struggling with the effects of budget cuts. Voters wanted a change two years ago and swept many Republicans out of office. Two years later they still want change and it’s the Democrats’ turn to squirm.

Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed, who recently visited Whidbey Island, is predicting the largest midterm election turnout in 40 years, estimating that 66 percent of those registered will vote. He attributes the voter interest to “hotly contested races and ballot measures, heavy television spending and fired-up grassroots activists.” Perhaps the party faithful are fired up, but regular voters are tired out after watching endless streams of televised political attack ads and opening their mailboxes to a new batch of printed attack ads every day for the last month. Candidates aren’t being candid by saying we’ll all have to suffer to put this country on the right track; nobody’s asking for personal sacrifice. Instead, they attack their opponents to the extent that the majority of voters entirely tune out or just vote early and put an end to the misery that way.

For those who haven’t voted, you’ve got until Tuesday to have your ballot postmarked. And even though you may be sick of it all by now, it’s important to use your best judgement and participate in the process because, really, it needs your help.