In Champlin lately, with elections nearing, I've noticed signs left and right campaigning for at least three different candidates for mayor. I find this a little silly, considering mayor is such a small job/responsibility compared to say a State Rep. or President, yet their signs are so much more prevalent.
Anyways, as I'll be able to vote this year, I began thinking about who I would vote for Champlin mayor. I'm attracted to each of three candidates differently. For one candidate, I know friends at school who are related to him and campaigning for him, and I want to vote for this candidate because I like the friends promoting him. For a second candidate, I know his brother as an old soccer coach, and he showed up campaigning at my door and took the time to meet me. For a third candidate, I have no personal connections but I'm just intrigued by his name (Seriously though, Payer for Mayor?! How fun is that to say?!).
Especially upon writing this post, I'm realizing how mundane and insignificant these reasons are for voting for mayor. Shouldn't I be wondering about their policies and their plans for my city? Heck, I don't even know what parties these three candidates are representing. I feel that I would never choose a President simply based on his cool name or any personal connections, but maybe because I don't see how much influence a mayor can really have on my life, I'm letting these insignificant details influence my vote.
Mayor is indeed a very minor position, even within a city. A city council has to review all policies with the mayor, and those are few and far between. In fact, many small-town (or in this case, suburban) mayors need to have another job to make enough money and fill up time.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it is important what you say about choosing a candidate based on minor factors. In a mayoral election, such factors are all one may need to consider, but in a presidential election (if you do vote) you'll need to do a lot of homework pertaining to the candidate's agenda.