Our opinion

Elections are extensive processes. They start months—even years—before the actual election day as candidates lay their foundations of support, then hit the campaign trail to generate interest and share their message. They collect requisite signatures to earn a place on the ballot, then work to meet with voters and collect public input and ideas. In the months leading up to the election, they face increasing scrutiny as voters seek information about their choices before heading to the polls.
It’s an intricate and exhaustive process and certainly not for the faint of heart. Campaigns are grueling–even on the local level. It’s not easy to be able to speak articulately on dozens of issues, to be able to think on your feet as questions are fired at you from a (rightfully) inquisitive public. It’s tough to absorb and comprehend the volume of information required to be an informed knowledgeable candidate. It’s a huge commitment of time and energy that certainly effects candidates’ work and home life. Clearly, running for office isn’t for everyone.
Thus, we salute the men and women who have accepted the challenge for our local election this fall. So, grateful to have definitive choices for our electorate, and with the understanding that running for office is hard enough, we propose we offer our candidates a break–from each other.
Two years ago, our county was embroiled in tightly contested local races for school board, supervisor and constitutional offices. Two supervisor races in particular were volatile and venomous. The cunning, underhanded politics we see on the national news had found its way to Orange and it made for a rather unpleasant election season. And that’s to say nothing of the laws broken and protocol breached. But, we’re not interested in flogging dead horses, only in issuing a reminder that things got ugly and, well, let’s just say it wasn’t our finest moment.
As voters, we’re delighted we have choices among candidates. Contested elections guarantee thoughtful discourse about key issues and offer voters the options when they cast their ballot. In the coming months, we’ll discover the boundaries of each candidate as they mark where they stand on the issues of importance to both us and them.
During that process, we implore the candidates to focus on who they are, what they believe, their ideas and where they stand, rather than offering vague, misleading or confusing suppositions about their opponents. If we want to know about them, we’ll ask them. We don’t need you to tell us what they’ll do if they’re in office, thank you.
Even in today’s high-stakes political society, civility and integrity should remain hallmarks of public service. Let’s not trample them in our efforts to achieve public office.
In the end, we want our candidates standing on their credentials, their records and their platforms, not their opponents.