We need the best in our elected offices
We need the best in our elected offices
To make today’s post more fun, read the following four paragraphs before clicking the link at the end.
Promises, promises. Or how about ‘the more things change the more they stay the same’. As
Promises, promises. Or how about ‘the more things change the more they stay the same’. As
To make today's post more fun, read the following four paragraphs before clicking the link at the end.
Promises, promises. Or how about 'the more things change the more they stay the same'. As we make our choices for voting in this primary election, I've a reminder for all of us to be careful of the promises by candidates. Promises are cheap and easily forgotten once a candidate is elected. Most candidates spend time with their campaign group thinking up promises and how to word them and which ones might get the most votes. Promises are not something deeply embedded in candidates. They are just tools for getting elected.
Instead, we might focus on integrity and a candidate's past performance in whatever job they had. After decades of focused political observations, I am convinced that integrity and competence are the two most important qualities we should look for in our elected officials. Experience in city hall is not viable preparation for being mayor. It is only indicative of a pumping heart and being a cog in an organization. Experience in private practice or on some other government agency - county, for instance - provides as much or more relevant experience for the job of mayor. Or representative to a council.
While the Minneapolis bridge collapse is an extreme example of incompetence by elected officials, it does illustrate that we people suffer when governments ignore real problems. We have real problems locally. Drinking water quality, mercury contamination in our waterfront, toxic wells in our county, inadequate waste water treatment facilities, unsafe crosswalks throughout our city, etc. The list goes on. We need competent elected officials to make wise decisions for our public facilities.
Now the evidence. A competent fellow with little integrity was elected a few years ago to a prominent office. I was all for him. In fact, I hosted his website right here on NwCitizen - the first political website in Bellingham or Whatcom County history. That site is still in place. Check out the 'Stands on Issues' - and note how many years ago those were made and how many were not fulfilled.
First candidate website in local politics. The year was 1995.
Let's look to integrity and competence in our choices. Government is serious business and needs the best people running it. We cannot afford to simply elect those who collect the most money from wealthy friends or who profess a love for our city or county. We all love this place. We need the best in our elected offices.
Promises, promises. Or how about 'the more things change the more they stay the same'. As we make our choices for voting in this primary election, I've a reminder for all of us to be careful of the promises by candidates. Promises are cheap and easily forgotten once a candidate is elected. Most candidates spend time with their campaign group thinking up promises and how to word them and which ones might get the most votes. Promises are not something deeply embedded in candidates. They are just tools for getting elected.
Instead, we might focus on integrity and a candidate's past performance in whatever job they had. After decades of focused political observations, I am convinced that integrity and competence are the two most important qualities we should look for in our elected officials. Experience in city hall is not viable preparation for being mayor. It is only indicative of a pumping heart and being a cog in an organization. Experience in private practice or on some other government agency - county, for instance - provides as much or more relevant experience for the job of mayor. Or representative to a council.
While the Minneapolis bridge collapse is an extreme example of incompetence by elected officials, it does illustrate that we people suffer when governments ignore real problems. We have real problems locally. Drinking water quality, mercury contamination in our waterfront, toxic wells in our county, inadequate waste water treatment facilities, unsafe crosswalks throughout our city, etc. The list goes on. We need competent elected officials to make wise decisions for our public facilities.
Now the evidence. A competent fellow with little integrity was elected a few years ago to a prominent office. I was all for him. In fact, I hosted his website right here on NwCitizen - the first political website in Bellingham or Whatcom County history. That site is still in place. Check out the 'Stands on Issues' - and note how many years ago those were made and how many were not fulfilled.
First candidate website in local politics. The year was 1995.
Let's look to integrity and competence in our choices. Government is serious business and needs the best people running it. We cannot afford to simply elect those who collect the most money from wealthy friends or who profess a love for our city or county. We all love this place. We need the best in our elected offices.
