The turnout for today's election is expected to be small. There's no competition for the office of mayor, there are only six candidates for five city council at-large seats and only two races for ward councilor.

There are more races on the school side of government, but without major issues, those races aren't expected to drive higher turnout. But nonetheless, votes should be cast. Choosing those who govern is a right too few in the world have, and it's a right our soldiers die to protect.

One of the latest to give his life is North Attleboro's Kyle Van De Giesen, a captain in the Marine Corps. He was killed in Afghanistan in helicopter crash last week.

Peter Gay, the moderator of a candidates' forum last week made the point clearly. "The way to pay tribute to Kyle Van De Giesen or any American soldier is take five or 10 minutes and go to the polls and vote," Gay said.

And the youths' winners are ... Meanwhile the Attleboro Youth Commission is trying to cultivate the voting habit early among its members. The youngsters held a mock city election recently and here are the results:

In the council at-large race, Brian Kirby led the vote getting with 11 votes, but that's no surprise since he is the group's mentor.

Other candidates gaining election were Kim Allard, Peter Blais and Walter Thibodeau, with five votes each. Mark Cooper squeaked in with three votes and Richard Conti was left out of the running.

In Ward 1, the 18-year-old Joe Lazzerini easily captured the youth vote, beating Cherie Felos 2-0.

Ward 5 was a split decision with John Davis and Duff White each getting a vote.

In the school board at-large race, Robbie Wuilleumier and Ray DiCiaccio got five votes each and Teri Enegren got three votes. Helen Johnson was left out of the running with two votes.

In Ward 1, Melissa Cook beat George Lukin 1-0 and in Ward 6, Michael Tyler beat Bruce Levine, 1-0.

All other wards, except Ward 3 where no votes were cast, the races ended in 1-1 ties. Apparently, a special election will be needed.

Getting history on track

For the record: The train of historical events was pushed off the tracks in a story about the city's train stations last week. It was incorrectly stated that H.H. Richardson designed the northbound railroad station built in 1906. He did not because he died in 1886. The story should have said the station was designed in the style of H.H. Richardson. Attleboro's station is very similar to a railroad station Richardson did design in Auburndale back in the early 1880s.