Why are local elections important?

In any year, let alone a Presidential election year, it's hard to find people who are interested in local elections. But arguably, it's the local elections that make the biggest impact on the daily lives of a given place.

We see during Presidential elections discussions about taxes and foreign policy and military spending and all that - which is great and important. But when it comes to local matters, such as the issue of what will the development of the area look like, what are the policies for allowing big corporations to come into the area (or trying to maintain a more "Mom and Pop" shopping experience), or even the priority for getting potholes filled - these are what impact families on a daily basis.

I remember one case where a town had to make a decision - did it want to build a sewage system (which was favoured by the residents because it would raise property values) or did it want to build a water park (which was favoured by the businesses because it would increase tourism). The city council chose the water park. Had the makeup of the town council been different, the decision might well have been different.