I can’t see the ballot from here
Remember when our elected officials weren’t always campaigning? That had to have been a thing. The cycle can’t have always been so get-in-office focused. Or am I looking at the past through glasses that have a bit of a rosy tint to them?
I’m not against campaigning. I just think there’s more to being an elected leader than getting ready for the next opportunity to be an elected leader. Smiling for the cameras is not governing. Or at least it shouldn’t be.
This subject is on my mind because Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom recently announced that he’s running for the top seat in the state. He set his eyes set on the California governorship, which won’t be available until 2018. There are already polls showing the percentages of various potential candidates, though I’m not sure what the percentages actually mean—and at this point in the cycle, I don’t really care. I saw six names on one poll, which seems a bit excessive to me, considering that the pundits are pretty much just guessing at this point as to who will even announce, much less ultimately end up on the ballot. A lot can happen between now and even a year before the election. The Big One could hit. The Bigger One could hit. The stock market could hit new heights or drop back into shadowy depths. War could break out. China could buy us all. I might get a new look. Maybe something with a little more attitude.
As bad as the national stage can be, California is worse when it comes to elections getting going before they probably should. Just look at the two for comparison.
The website Slate ran a story in early February lamenting that presidential potentials are already jumping—or being pushed—into campaign mode, and that election is set for Nov. 8, 2016. The piece noted that, at the time of its publication, there were 644 days until the election. Consider that this is the top office in the nation, and some people think that it’s still a bit too early to be polishing up a stump speech.
If it’s too soon for Mitt Romney and Hillary Clinton to be actively talking about the White House, it’s certainly way too early for Newsom to be talking about Sacramento—or a new view of Sacramento, anyway, since he’s there already.
I suppose that these initial steps, which take the form of committees and announcements of intent and the like, are akin to wanting to be the first explorer to step on a new continent and plant a flag to prove dominance. That Manifest Destiny-driven mode of conquest wasn’t really the best way to go about discovering the world, and I have my doubts as to whether it’s ideal for campaigning.
Huffington Post noted that Newsom’s early announcement gives him a “fundraising edge of any potential challengers,” which is great for him, but a headache for the rest of us. Since when does first equal best? Well, forget the Olympics or any other athletic—or even academic—competition. Bad example.
Since when does being the first person to state a desire for a particular public office equate to being the best person for that office? Shouldn’t we be casting our votes based on merit, proposed policy, and other qualities that actually matter?
I am grateful that the attention given to early announcements pulls back the curtain just a bit and reminds us all that as much as we wish our candidates would run on issues, the process is actually very money and time driven. The more we’re aware of that, the better we can recognize it, identify it, and work around it—in theory, anyway. It seems obvious to me that the red-white-and-blue waving person in front of the camera isn’t necessarily going to get my vote just for showing up three years out and staying in the spotlight, but I am a practical and thoughtful bird. The cynical side of me might point out that candidates who get a more than running start seem to be relying more on momentum and a marketing sort of name recognition over substance, but I suppose that says more about the electorate than the candidates themselves. If I were to run for office, I would probably listen to my campaign strategist because, hey, I want to actually be in that office.
While I’m on the subject, I’ll point out that Jordan Cunningham has announced his intention to take over the seat soon to be vacated by Assemblyman Katcho Achadjian. To his credit, that race for the 35th District hits in June 2016, about 16 months from now. That’s sooner, even, than the next presidential election, and the timing seems like less of an issue the closer the announcement is to the election itself. Still, there’s a long way to go until the big day, and thus far no one else has stepped up to join him on this long and winding road.
Don’t worry. They’ve got time.
The Canary can barely think ahead to next Tuesday. Send comments or ideas to canary@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Feb 19-26, 2015.