The best ways to judge our candidates

The most important aspect of democratic elections is the regular opportunity for a job performance review of our elected officials. For us to have the elected leadership that our community needs, we need to do our part – evaluate the candidates thoughtfully and actually vote.

Primary elections are this Tuesday, and we should treat every election as a job interview for first-time candidates and a job performance review for candidates seeking re-election. One benefit of primary elections is the ability to look past party labels, which are irrelevant at this stage. (Not to mention that party identification is as simple as checking a box on a form and easily changed.)

Voting for the most “Democratic” or “Republican” candidate typically results in a competition of hyperbole and volume. We are not electing people to win shouting matches. We are electing people to govern. We should look at three important characteristics:

How they learn: We should elect people who pursue knowledge over power, influence, popularity, or attention. Curiosity without an agenda leads to inclusion of different perspectives and data. The desire to learn and the ability to apply new information is critical to governance. Politics and policy are subject to new information and shifting perspectives. Elected officials who feel overwhelmed or threatened by new data hold us back. We need public leaders who are receptive and adaptive, not combative when confronted with new information.

How they approach teamwork: Next, we should elect team players. Do they value reaching a solution over being right all the time? What evidence is there of their ability to perform as part of a team? Does their work history include working on a team? Do they play or coach team sports? Working with others is something that we learn in kindergarten, but the capacity to collaborate evolves as we grow up. Teamwork is a skill that can be developed and maintained.

Who they are: Finally, we should evaluate their personal values and character traits. Are they resilient? Public service is not for the faint of heart. How do they respond to feedback? Public comment can be cruel and relentless. Do they demonstrate restraint and tact when they speak? Is there evidence of discipline in their life – career advancement, academic achievement, or some other accomplishment? What are they passionate about? Are they optimistic or cynical? Is there evidence of a selfless sense of service – volunteerism or civic leadership?

We might have gotten it wrong in recent elections, but Tuesday is a chance to try again.

We also need more people to vote. Turnout is projected to be around 15 percent, which means the vast majority of people are not expected to vote in the primary. This includes respected business leaders, non-profit board members and other community members. They should lose their status as civic leaders if they can but do not vote. Whom you vote for is private, but whether you vote is public knowledge. Just as we hold our elected officials accountable, we should hold each other accountable.

This story was originally published May 5, 2018 at 3:59 PM with the headline "The best ways to judge our candidates."