As the midterm campaign season begins in earnest, it’s a good time to get grounded. When considering which candidate to vote for, remember that an elective office is first and foremost a job. The campaign is the job interview, and every citizen is part of the interview panel.
The questions to ask oneself are: Which candidate has the most experience? What do they want to do in office? Have they demonstrated the ability to accomplish such things before, or are they at least able to cite anyone else who has? Do the examples cited hold up under scrutiny?
Also, if the candidate is citing issues they want to address, how well do they demonstrate the importance of these issues, and how widespread they are in the community?
If the “issues” they cite can’t be shown to be real or at all widespread, they may not be a candidate worth supporting; it shows a poor sense of priorities.
If a candidate sees themselves not so much as a person seeking a position of public trust, but as some sort of warrior in a grandiose struggle, they’re likely not worth supporting either.
Look closely, listen, and choose wisely.
Michael Seden-Hansen
Paso Robles
This article appears in September 10 – September 17, 2026.
