Gaining labor unions endorsements has become a gauge of a candidates’ qualification for office. I don’t understand why this is so. Gaining the public safety unions endorsement has been the goal for candidates in Vallejo. I can understand why candidates seek it, because this endorsement seems to have greatly influenced voter’s selection. However, I do not understand why voters gave any weight to those endorsements.

Nothing in their job descriptions supports the presumption that public safety workers know more about choosing the best candidates for political office than other residents do. They endorse one mayoral candidate they say, because she is best able to bring new business and jobs here. This reasoning shows they have no more insight, maybe less, in choosing the best candidates for political office than average residents do.

The Economic Development Commission has the tasks of improving the business climate and bringing businesses to the city. Of course the mayor and council members have interests in promoting business in Vallejo and other cities. But, this is at best a small part of the duties of their office.

It is government’s role to provide certain basic services for residents. This includes water service, sewer service, well maintained streets and public safety services. It is the duty of elected officials to oversee those operations. They do this by passing appropriate rules, regulations and ordinances.

The city council and school board’s most important duty is to pass and oversee budgets and wise spending of tax money to provide services. The fact that both local government agencies are in financial crisis shows that neither governing board handled this part of their duties well. It also indicates voters did not choose well, or maybe the system discouraged people with the proper qualifications from running for office.

It should be clear to Vallejo voters by now that the mayor and council members’ most important job is overseeing the budget. They cannot ignore this responsibility and hope to escape the bankrupting consequences by attracting new businesses here. Vallejo needs council members who understand they are its governing body and not its chamber of commerce.

It boggles the mind how American voters select candidates. They decide based on political endorsements and shortened answers candidates give to secret pop questions. They will elect the glibbest, most personable and best financed candidate this way, but not necessarily one that is qualified.

Their duties do not require office holders to make instant decisions to pop questions. Except in an emergency, they should collect and weigh relevant facts before they decide. So, why have those debates that limit candidates to one or three minute answers to a question they just heard?

I understand people often ask those questions to see how knowledgeable candidates are about subjects. However, situations change constantly. It is more important to learn what reasoning process and principles a candidate relies on to guide his or her decisions. Debate procedures that challenge candidates with pop questions have questionable value. Debate rules that restrict candidates from giving full answers defeat the goal of the interview to learn how candidates reason.

A better system would supply questions to candidates weeks in advance and ask them to respond fully in writing. The debate sponsors should keep their answers secret until all candidates answered or the night of the interview. Then, having read those answers, voters could question candidates about their full answers and positions on issues.  

I ignore endorsements that do not include the questions the organization asked and the candidate’s answers that earned him or her the endorsement. Otherwise, I have only someone whose qualification and motives I don’t know recommending a candidate.

 

Kenneth Brooks is an independent writer. Contact him at P.O. Box 882, Vallejo, CA 94590   opinion@ethicalego.com