Local elections will determine a great deal this coming November.
On the front page of this edition, we featured a story on the individuals who have qualified so far for the various offices up for grabs this election round. We will continue to cover this list each week until February when the deadline for qualifying occurs.
I’ve seen on social media several posts by community members calling for change. Well, I wondered to myself how much the general public truly understands about politics and the hurtles that each of our elected officials must clear in order to implement not only renovations or improvements but also adhere to legal requirements. I’ll be honest, although I pride myself on having a general working understanding, I’m nowhere near proficient in understanding all the challenges our local leaders face.
One thing I would like to stress this election season is for each candidate who signs up to campaign but also to all the voters in our county to use caution and think carefully.
As for those who choose to run, I would hope a great deal of responsibility would be apparent to them. They hold the weight of their constituents on their shoulders. They must face public displeasure in almost any decision they make. Why? Well, that’s because no matter how smart, nice or amiable a person might consider themselves, there is no way to keep everyone happy at the same time.
There is a saying in the newspaper world, and it is, “If you aren’t making someone mad, then you aren’t doing your job.” In a way this is also true for politics. As much as our local leaders might try to appease the people they represent, there is just no way to make everyone happy; so, I would encourage our local candidates to prepare themselves for that reality. It is not for the faint of heart.
And for our local voters, please be aware of the responsibility held with casting a ballot. The vote is not about a popularity club. The person elected should be the person most likely to handle the responsibility. It shouldn’t be about social media likes. It shouldn’t be because they might have been there for ages. It shouldn’t be about having new people in seats. In the simplest of terms, the person deserving of the vote should be the person capable of handling the post.
Before I cast my vote, I often find myself imagining I am an employer about to decide who I want to hire. When all is said and done, I want the person I can rely on to do the job. Experience, dependability, adaptability, and character all play a roll as deciding factors.
When the deadline for qualifying passes, we will be publishing the salaries and job responsibilities for each position up for grabs. When voters go to the polls, they should not only understand the amount of money each candidate will be earning from tax dollars, but also the job they will be required to perform. After that, may the best candidate succeed.
