Sometimes, statistics tell a story. Today, a column of statistics:

The last time the Attleboro city election did not have a contested mayoral race was in 1993. Turnout that year was 27 percent. Two years earlier, with several tax-increase questions on the ballot, 61 percent of the electorate went to the polls. In 1995, turnout was 41 percent. In fact, in each city election without a mayoral contest, turnout has been much less than the preceding or succeeding election.

Which brings us to this year, when Mayor Kevin Dumas will be unopposed. Without that high-profile race at the top of the ballot, what will the turnout be when city voters go to the polls on Nov. 3?

Consider that turnout in the two city elections was 29 and 28 percent, respectively.

My educated guess - I've covered city elections for more than a quarter of a century - is that turnout will be in the high teens at best. In other words, more than four out of five voters won't bother to spend five minutes to choose their leaders for the next two years. Will they complain when their street isn't plowed? I hope not.

Checking the bill

Do you know how much you would have to spend before the meals tax increase approved in North Attleboro and Plainville - and rejected in Foxboro - would hike your bill by $1? $133.34. For a couple having a meal and a drink - spending $40 - the hike adds 30 cents to the bill.

Who's going to notice?

25,000 jobs

The economic downturn has cost Massachusetts more than 25,000 manufacturing jobs. That figure comes from the annual Massachusetts Manufacturers Register, which reports that industrial employment fell 6.4 percent in the Bay State during a 24-month period between July 2007 and July 2009. Massachusetts remains home to more than 9,100 manufacturers employing about 373,000 workers, with electronics continuing to be the top industrial sector.

The question is: How many lost jobs will come back?

Look who's buying

The 2007 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, conducted among public and private high school students, concluded that nearly half of students had had at least one drink of alcohol in the 30 days before the survey, about one in four had binge drank (consumed five or more drinks in one sitting) in the 30 days before the survey and one in four had consumed alcohol for the first time before the age of 13.

Thirteen? The toll

As of Tuesday, at least 4,349 members of the U.S. military had died in the Iraq war since it began in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. The figure includes nine military civilians killed in action. At least 3,474 military personnel died as a result of hostile action, according to the military's numbers. Since the start of U.S. military operations in Iraq, 31,527 U.S. service members have been wounded in hostile action, according to the Defense Department's tally.

Mission accomplished?

MIKE KIRBY is editor of The Sun Chronicle. His commentaries appear Sundays. He can be reached at 508-236-0344 or at mkirby@thesunchronicle.com.