One week from today Village residents will vote to elect a mayor and two trustees to serve as our voices in local government for the next four years. These final seven days before the election are the last days voters will be able to hear from candidates, consider their views and positions on issues, and decide which lever to pull on March 18th.
Candidates get quoted regarding their positions in local newspapers; they walk door-to-door in an effort to introduce (or re-introduce) themselves to voters while offering an opportunity to ask specific questions; they create websites; and they send out campaign literature through the mail.
In the campaign rhetoric we hear the words "I" and "team" a great deal, despite the old saw that there is no "I" in the word "team." We are told that "I did this" or "I accomplished that", or "our team has done some wonderful thing" or "we will do one thing or another." This is all part and parcel of election campaigns. No one really believes that any one person can be credited with the accomplishments or blamed for the failures of a village board. No one candidate can deliver on all of the promises they make, and they should not promise that a "team" will do so either, because in a democratic society there should be open public discussion and some disagreement amongst the "team" from time to time. Individuals should occasionally step forward and offer alternatives. This usually brings about more thoughtful and lasting solutions. This is human nature, and the deliberative process at its best.
This community deserves only a respectful and considerate offering of criticism between the candidates, and it should only be about decisions and policies, not personalities. And it should never, ever be sniping, whining, or reminiscent of a playground brawl.
So far, the candidates have kept the campaign dignified. The candidate who offers negative sniping will likely find themselves on the short end of the vote count on March 18th.
What we must do now is pay attention during these final days of campaigning, and then make sure we vote on Tuesday.
Candidates get quoted regarding their positions in local newspapers; they walk door-to-door in an effort to introduce (or re-introduce) themselves to voters while offering an opportunity to ask specific questions; they create websites; and they send out campaign literature through the mail.
In the campaign rhetoric we hear the words "I" and "team" a great deal, despite the old saw that there is no "I" in the word "team." We are told that "I did this" or "I accomplished that", or "our team has done some wonderful thing" or "we will do one thing or another." This is all part and parcel of election campaigns. No one really believes that any one person can be credited with the accomplishments or blamed for the failures of a village board. No one candidate can deliver on all of the promises they make, and they should not promise that a "team" will do so either, because in a democratic society there should be open public discussion and some disagreement amongst the "team" from time to time. Individuals should occasionally step forward and offer alternatives. This usually brings about more thoughtful and lasting solutions. This is human nature, and the deliberative process at its best.
This community deserves only a respectful and considerate offering of criticism between the candidates, and it should only be about decisions and policies, not personalities. And it should never, ever be sniping, whining, or reminiscent of a playground brawl.
So far, the candidates have kept the campaign dignified. The candidate who offers negative sniping will likely find themselves on the short end of the vote count on March 18th.
What we must do now is pay attention during these final days of campaigning, and then make sure we vote on Tuesday.
