Last week The New Era hosted a forum that included five of the six candidates running for Sweet Home City Council (all were invited).
The reason we did that was because we felt that local voters need as many tools as possible to determine who deserves their vote in this election, which ends Nov. 8. That’s the deadline for submitting ballots, either by mail or at the drop boxes located at Sweet Home Police Department and Sweet Home City Hall, both of which will be open till 8 p.m. on that day.
Of course, if you’ve made up your mind, there’s no sense waiting until then, but if you’re still unsure, read on.
This election, as we’ve observed previously, is a critical one for Oregonians. The key questions: Do we want more of the same or something different in the direction our state is heading?
The same questions apply at the local level and it’s great that we have six candidates running for four open seats in Sweet Home. That hasn’t always been the case. Competition is good because it forces candidates (and voters) to address issues that might otherwise be sidestepped, when defense of views and policies are unnecessary.
Per our usual policy, we aren’t going to endorse anyone here. Although we are very familiar with the incumbent candidates, having faithfully covered City Council activities during the past four years and previously, and although we have some acquaintance with the challengers, our philosophy is that rational readers don’t need the newspaper telling them whom to vote for.
However, here are some pointers we would suggest to help the unsure evaluate candidates. There are a lot of smoke and mirrors out there, particularly in the final weeks of a vigorously contested election, which this is turning out to be. Here are our thoughts.
First of all, what issues and challenges matter to you here in Sweet Home? We hear concerns from readers about homelessness, downtown decay, traffic flow and speeds, pedestrian safety, the length of time it’s taken to get those ADA-appropriate curbs and sidewalks in, a proliferation of rabbits and rats, the turnover of quality city staff members, the city’s relationship with county government, hoarders and messy yards, etc. etc.
What are yours? What’s important to you? What leadership qualities are you looking for?
Next, it’s homework time. If you haven’t seen it yet, check out our Oct. 19 voter’s guide (still available at sweethomenews.com – click on “News,” then on “politics and government”). You’ll see questionnaires for candidates in all of the local races all the way up to the state House and Senate races in east Linn County, plus a story on the measures that are on the ballot.
Here are some other considerations:
n How involved is the candidate in pulbic life right now? (Is this person suddenly coming out of the woodwork or have they already been active?) That’s important, because candidates who haven’t been involved often prove to be not very aware of what’s going on in the city/county/district they want to represent. They might have an issue that has prompted them to run, but they aren’t really very knowledgeable about much else.
n Have you seen this candidate (especially for local offices) out in public? Some politicians make it a point to interact in public. Some stay home on weekends. Which do you want?
We recall, for example, the Sweet Home city staff organizing an open house to give the public a chance to find out about the issues and plans involving a local millsite. It was a big deal. The public showed up, we (the newspaper) showed up, but we did not see a single City Council member there – and we were there for nearly the entire time.
Neither did we see any of the eight individuals who were on the ballot for City Council the next year. How important is it for council candidates to be engaged in public life besides showing up at city meetings? Some are. You may recognize them.
n Is the candidate qualified? What kind of experience do they have? Are they running on personality? On some singular beef(s)?
Evaluate each candidate. Don’t just vote because your brother-in-law told you he really likes so-and-so. It is certainly important to hear what other people think of a candidate, but ultimately, you are making a decision that will affect your life – very possibly in ways (issues) listed above. Listen closely to what they are saying. Are they shining you on or is what they say credible, thoughtful, realistic?
n Is the candidate eager/willing/capable to learn? Just because a candidate doesn’t know everything about everything now doesn’t mean she or he can’t get there. But if you don’t have that assurance, do you want an individual serving you in government who doesn’t know much and doesn’t care to? It’s your future they’re playing with, your money.
n At all levels, but particularly in ads/commercials for higher offices, watch out for distortion: name-calling, appeals to your prejudice, guilt by association (“So-and-so is backed by such-and-such, big money, etc.), shifting blame inappropriately (is blaming someone for something fair?), evading real issues that we should be hearing from them about or offering vague solutions. The people behind these ads are playing us. As alluded to earlier, it’s gotten really nasty in the last couple of weeks, particularly in the gubernatorial and congressional races.
Anyone who has intervied job candidates knows the best talkers aren’t always the best employees (unless the ability to sound good is a factor). Unfortunately, it’s true in politics, but here glibness tends to play well.
This election, there are lots of opportunities, including multiple forums, plus our local voters guides. There’s a lot of information out there, easily accessible.
There are four gubernatorial debates involving all three candidates.
There is a Sheriff candidates forum.
And we’ve posted a video of our local City Council forum, which gives you a chance to hear from these candidates.
Watching and listening to the canddiates is crucial. You can pick up a lot of nonverbals that never show up in commercials, in written words. We can pretty much guarantee you will see things in a new way.
If you’re busy, tune in while you’re driving or working in the yard.
But be an informed voter. The rest of us are counting on you to make a good decision.