Spring is almost here and that can only mean one thing: the time to start thinking about fall elections is upon us. Why do I say this? Because eight months will give us more than enough time to find out if the candidates we support are all they’re cracked up to be.
It’s a long-standing tradition on the coast to vote against someone, not for a candidate. Perhaps it’s time we changed that. How do we do that, you ask?
Well, a good start is by questioning our own belief system. Are we tied to a long-held ideal that just isn’t practical in present times? Are we in it to win it regardless of how it affects our fellow residents? Are we so afraid of change that we will continue to elect the same officials no matter what their track records are? Or conversely, are we so angry at our own pet projects being ignored that we’ll vote the bums out of office without actually giving credit for good governance?
Soul searching is never an easy prospect; tie in money and stubbornness and it becomes almost impossible. So what to do?
First of all, research the candidates. Are they leaders or well-programmed followers? In my opinion, the best of leaders successfully straddle the fine line between confidence and arrogance. They make necessary decisions after listening to all sides of the debate and, perhaps most importantly, defend their decision even when it’s not popular. By the same token they can admit when they’ve made a mistake and take an issue back to the table.
Sometimes on the coast our politicians divide into three camps. They procrastinate until even the most ardent of taxpayers give up and just go away. They ram through decisions as quickly as possible without letting folks have their say. Or they listen, hold public meetings, study staff reports and then make a decision based on what they’ve heard and seen with their own eyes and ears, not threats.
This year, as always, there’s a lot at stake on the coast. There’s a need to increase the stock of affordable housing, a requirement to face the growing number of seniors and their unique demands, and finally there’s an obligation to make the coast a place where young people can flourish. None of these are mutually exclusive. It behooves a caring electorate to find the best candidates to find the answers to coast concerns. Make your vote count.
