[Editorial]  Be a Smarter Voter: Demand Answers

June 8, 2011

In 2011, you can expect information about local or state elections to be piecemeal at best, or focused on the trivial at worst.

Sadly, voters have few directions to turn for decent coverage of a candidate's real stand about any one issue—or a way to figure out how a candidate thinks and reasons. Campaigns tend to do everything they can to discourage real open-ended debates, and most media outlets engage in poll-based "horse-race" coverage rather than indepth, contextual coverage of issues. You can't expect to get much platform information and in-depth coverage from the local television and radio stations, except in the case of a mediocre news event, such as a candidate being accused of vandalizing another candidate's yard signs.

For this reason, be thankful for community leaders who host meet-and-greet events with local and statewide candidates. Former NAACP Jackson President Gus McCoy and other politicos are putting together Politix in the Park at Koinonia Coffee House June 25 to try to fill this substantive void. The organizers are inviting everyone from Democratic Hinds County District 1 constable candidate Primus Wheeler to GOP gubernatorial candidate Phil Bryant in hopes that voters will draw their own conclusions before heading to the ballot box.

Personal interest is vital to fully understanding who and what you're voting for. Candidates tend to address issues in generalities that mean little. "Let's lower taxes and increase business," they might say. Good idea. Now how will you address the resulting statewide revenue shortfalls and budget insolvency after decreasing revenue for the third year in a row?

Answers to specific questions are necessary before you can take a candidate seriously. Look behind the general feel-good language and demand specifics; otherwise, you'll never know if your guy is capable of complicated analysis and problem solving.

Educate yourself on the issues and how they apply to you. If you have a kid in public school, for example, check in with Nancy Loome and The Parents' Campaign to see how your local legislator voted regarding public-school funding, or email Loome some questions at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Nervous about public safety? Dig up your local sheriff's contact number from his campaign headquarters, and ask him what he's doing about it. Then pester his opponent to detail how he could do it better. You'll know after a few questions which one of these people are serious about public safety—they'll be the one talking specifics—and who just wants to win an election.

Before you head to the ballot box this year, educate yourself on the candidates and what they stand for. And in Jackson, plan to attend Politix in the Park. Come ready with your open-ended questions. And don't leave until you get answers.


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