POLITICS: A REASONABLE APPROACH

We are fast approaching a general election in Nov. 2012. Not only will federal and state issues be decided, but the City of Marina Mayor and two council member positions also will be on the November 2012 ballot.

The positions presently held by Mayor Bruce Delgado, Councilman Ford and myself will be voted on by the residents of the city. What are they to base their decisions on when they cast their vote? Will the vote be based on negative comments made by opponents to the candidates? Will the vote be made on an informed decision that is the result of truth and positive comments?

If we look at the behavior of some residents of the city we can expect a negative campaign that will not benefit the residents and businesses of this fine city. There are those who fabricate, falsify and distort the facts to support their opinion and position. Fortunately, those individuals, though very vocal, are in the minority. They do not represent the vast majority of the residents of Marina.

Whether we have only incumbents or a group of candidates made up of incumbents and people who have never held elected office, we must approach the election in a positive manner. There should be no more negative surveys, or misleading literature. Each candidate should be expected to take a positive approach that benefits the city.

There will probably be a forum for people to submit questions to the candidates. The procedure that has been followed in the past does not really address the true concerns of the residents. The questions are submitted by people who support one or more candidate and they are screened by representatives for each candidate prior to being submitted for a response. Each candidate is given an opportunity to answer the same question. By the time the last candidate answers he/she has heard the other responses.

The best approach is an open question period. The public asks the individual candidate a question that has not been screened. The candidate gives his answer and then a new question is asked to another candidate. The same question does not go to each candidate. Toward the end of the session each candidate would be allowed to ask another candidate a question. Finally, at the end the candidate can summarize his/her position on the issues facing the city and give his/her response to a previous question that was asked to another candidate.

The goal of the election process is to elect the most competent and informed candidate. It should not be a popularity contest that results in a poorly informed and less competent person being elected. Please try to be informed by asking questions and demanding answers. Do not allow the negative verbal and written remarks to go unchallenged. You deserve better.