New Haven Independent

In past years there were always debates. Especially in the larger cities like New Haven and Bridgeport it was the League of Women Voters and the Chamber of Commerce that always seemed to host one for candidates running for mayor or first selectman or some elected office. Three or four debates weren’t uncommon and usually also one or two on the local radio stations.

There was one mayoral debate in New Haven this year. There is a mayoral debate Tuesday in West Haven.

Which leads to the larger question: How are people supposed to figure out whom to vote for if all they have to go on is the campaign slogans of the politicians and a few articles written here and there?

For democracy to work well we need an informed electorate. The silliness that will eventually show up in my mailbox from the candidates themselves will hardly pass for anything labeled objective.

I’ve spent 30 years as a reporter asking questions of the people who want to represent you and me. But with fewer of us “journos” around this year and fewer places for us to ask questions of people running for office, you’re pretty much on your own. When you run across someone running, try asking these and see what you get for answers:

1. Name specifically one budget item you want to cut, why it is important we cut it and how you are going to “sell” this cut to other legislators.

2. Name one specific place you are going to spend more money and tell me what item you are going to cut or what tax you are going to raise to pay for it.

3. If you could only have one term, what is the one piece of legislation you want to be remembered for?

Me? I like to look at how a pol positions himself. I get turned off quickly if the campaign material is swimming in the flag. You need to be a citizen in order to run for office so the unspoken message, “I’m an American and the other candidate isn’t as much of one” doesn’t do a thing for me.

Same thing for the flag lapel pin. I have too much respect for what the flag stands for to make it into a wardrobe accessory.

I also get cold feet when someone says they want to run government like a business. Given the number of businesses that have gone bankrupt this year alone I am thinking that is a bad idea. Just because you are good at one thing doesn’t mean you have any of the necessary qualifications for another. It is just a guess, but I think my doctor would make a truly lousy auto mechanic or bricklayer.