I have been very interested in reading all the informative and passionate postings by the candidates and their supporters on this Third Ward Council race. As someone not a resident of the Third Ward, I feel it is important that all City residents understand the issues that effect each ward so that the City Council can collectively fashion a consistent policy for the City.
However, I have been concerned by a few postings that seem to have as their only purpose a pulling apart of another's posting or literature piece to find a word or phrase he/she disagrees with. Let's face it, no one speaks or writes perfectly. You can't put into a post or a lit piece your entire agenda with detailed precision on how it will be accomplished. Cut some slack, these people are candidates - you can't expect them to know everything about an issue.
What I actually want from a candidate is a thorough knowledge of the problem and the ability to state that in a coherent fashion with some ideas - not necessarily a full blown game plan - on how it can be approached. I want them to have a demonstrated level of accomplishment in their lives. I want them to show some dedication to their neighborhood and City. I want them to show compassion.
This is coming from a former City Council candidate (1975 - 13th Ward) who lost. I will never forget a man who yelled at me that he wouldn't vote for me because one of my campaign workers had not securely put a piece of my literature in his door and it had blown into his yard. He said I was responsible for each and every work and each and every thing they did. Sorry, folks, that is impossible. Yes, a leader needs to be responsible for those who work for him/her on matters that are of importance. You can't know and needn't be held accountable that they failed to return a library book on time.
So lighten up. Keep the conversation flowing, but please stick to those things that really matter and don't be so intent on the "got ya".
Jan Del Calzo
Lynnhurst
