FLORIDA
Opinion by:
E. Eugene Webb PhD
Originally Published 7/21/2024
By
now you may have your mail in ballot. If you do, you may have read the list of
candidates for each office from the presidential race all the way through City
Council, county Commission, state Senate, State House, judges, referendums, and
some things you may not actually understand.
As
you are looking at those State, County and City Council or City Commission
elections you need to beware of the One Note Candidate.
I
define a One Note Candidate as someone who has never held the office they are
running for, and in most cases has never held an elected office. But, has a
single issue that they are running on.
These
people, speak loudly, often using a megaphone, about their singular issue. They
promise immediate change, no compromise.
Their
single issue can be abortion, taxes, development, crime, corruption, LGBTQ both
pro and con, faith and religion in public schools both pro and con, book
banning, school choice, and the list goes on.
One
Note Candidates who get elected, quickly find out that at all levels in our
democratic system, from the City Council to the State Legislature, no
individual can do anything to create change by themselves. That is the way our
democracy is designed to work. The system is based on cooperation and
compromise.
In
many cases, newly elected One Note candidates spend an inordinate amount of
their time flailing against the system and creating chaos among their fellow
office holders.
One
Note candidates are easy to spot from their public statements and campaign
literature that comes through the mail, and as with any candidate you are
considering voting for, you should check out their social media pages.
You
may find a One Note candidate that is playing your note. In our system of
democracy there is really nothing wrong with you voting for an individual you
have great confidence in. Just realize that somebody expressing your ideas on a
particular issue may have no idea how the Governmental entity they are running
for election in, really works.
In
issues of budgeting, procurement, policy, governmental structure, public safety,
education, transportation, public works, and general governmental
administration they may have little or no understanding.
You
and your fellow citizens would be better served by someone with a broader view
of the position they are running for.
So, if you are looking at a One Note Candidate take a little time and do some research. If you need some help evaluating those candidates check out: How Do You Make an Informed Voting Decision in 2024 Part II .
E-mail Doc at mail to: dr.gwebb@yahoo.com or send me a Facebook (E. Eugene Webb) Friend request. Like or share on Facebook, follow me on X at @DOC ON THE BAY.
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