Elections ignite local community Published Jan. 16, 2009 By Mehmet Birbiri 39th Air Base Wing host nation advisor INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Incirlik service members and civilians may have noticed the numerous banners, posters and billboards containing photos and political emblems decorating the local streets. These banners and posters advertise the local elections which will be held throughout Turkey on Mar. 29, when Turkish voters will elect new mayors and city councilmen, all who will serve five-year terms. Most parties haven't announced their candidates yet, but by the end of January, all candidates will be announced and the propaganda will get harsh. There will be vehicles with loud speakers and political affiliated photos and flyers traveling in convoys. When these convoys tour the streets of the city, speaker volumes are turned-up extremely high, and the vehicles continuously honk their horns. City traffic becomes paralyzed, especially when two convoys cross an intersection. In addition to the billboards, every wall, post, bridge virtually everything will be covered with pictures of the candidates and their respective party's flag. Rallies will be held for every candidate and party in different sections of the city. Some streets and areas of the city will be closed to traffic when the various party leaders, including the prime minister, hold rallies for their candidates. These rallies can be volatile situations and should be avoided by Americans if possible. Adana voters will vote for the mayor of the metropolitan city of Adana, the mayor of their township, the city and councils of the their township, and for the chief of the district (or "muhtar") they live in. There are four townships in Adana: two on the western side of the river and two on the eastern side of the river. Metropolitan cities such as Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir have many more townships.