Posted on 04/14/2006 6:14:10 PM PDT by Congressman Billybob
Today I saw several signs urging me to vote for Garland Hogshed. Now, I don’t know Mr. Garland from Adam’s cat. Not whether he is a Republican, Democrat, liberal, conservative, incumbent or challenger. I only know he’s running for Commissioner in Clay County, North Carolina. But he has a sturdy Southern name which belongs on a local official hereabouts. That brings us to the subjects of this column, local officials and early primaries.
Unlike most states, North Carolina has a very early primary, May 2nd. Why is this?
Many times I’ve read the bromide that “America has two major parties, the Incumbents and the Rest of Us.” The NC early primary is a proof of that statement.
Most citizens don’t start paying reasonable attention to politics until after Labor Day. The press, too, is rather desultory until then. Therefore, early primaries give the advantage to incumbents because challengers find it hard to raise money, sign up volunteers, and get press so early in an election year.
Democrats and Republicans in our state legislature, and in all others, may fight like cats and dogs over many issues. But when it comes to reelection, they are of one mind. “We’re in. We want to stay here. How can we use laws to make it difficult for challengers to unseat us?” Consider a couple boys in a tree house who pull up the ladder so no one else can climb up, and you understand their thinking. Most national election laws are drafted on the same principle.
But the date of the election only affects the major offices. Once you get down to the level of County Commissioners (equivalent to City or County Councilmen in most states, or Selectmen in New England), a different dynamic applies.
These elections are conducted below the radar of most press, and below the budget level of most campaigns. These are salt of the Earth folks who often do not print up campaign literature, and who can talk to enough of their neighbors to get elected – if their neighbors like them.
This was demonstrated at a League of Women Voters event I attended this week in Franklin, County Seat for Macon County. The ladies had a fine turnout, given that it was a luncheon meeting. About 60 people were there to hear from four candidates for County Commissioner, plus some remarks from other candidates present, including me.
There was exactly one candidate of the four who “sounded like a politician.” He may have his eyes on higher office. The other three were exactly the kind of folks you’d meet by the dozens at charity barbeques, Little League games, PTA meetings, Scout meetings, in church, and so forth.
In fact, the candidates mentioned all such events as part of their background to be local officials. Plus, all of them mentioned how long they had lived and worked in Macon County..
That might not sound like much. But add this fact: every one of those candidates was a hard-working, diligent man who’d given time and effort to his community and wanted to do more. That showed in their discussions of a particularly nasty “zoning” fracas that took place a year ago. They were willing to listen to citizens, to arrive at a fair conclusion for all concerned.
I’m not leaving out the women candidates. The Commission ones were all men. The candidates for Clerk of Court were all women. They displayed the same qualities as the men when they spoke at the end of the meeting, since their offices, like mine, were not featured on this occasion.
Why am I talking about ordinary people running for the lowest level jobs in the political food chain, in a County you’ve never heard of? Because exactly the same logic applies to the entry-level elected positions in your jurisdiction, no matter where you are.
Time and again, people say straight to my face that “All politicians are crooks.” Even given recent events in North Carolina, the word “all” is an exaggeration. But there is some truth to the statement. So I ask, what are you doing about it?
Local officials become state officials. Then Congressmen. Then Senators. I described that natural progression in one of my books as “The Dogcatcher Rule.” It is: “Everyone in politics is really running for one of two offices. Someone just elected Dogcatcher in Dover, Delaware, in his heart of hearts wants to be a US Senator. And every Senator, in his heart of hearts, wants to be President.”
Odds are, your primary is still open. Odds are, you have the talents to be an honest and able public official. The first one of you to run for office and win, because of this article, will be featured in a November column with the title, “Vote for [YOUR NAME HERE]!” I hope to hear from you if you’re serious about improving American politics. Lord knows, they need it.
About the Author: John Armor is candidate for Congress in the 11th District of North Carolina. John_Armor@aya.yale.edu
John / Billybob
Garland Hogshed???
RTFP.
yur lucky they have a primary there, here we don't even get a chance to pick a Gub GOP candidate the old fashioned way altho we still hold one for most other offices in early June, we just get a lib shoved down our throat.
as to Adam's cat, I didn't know he had one. ;-)
as to early primaries, I agree with your sentiments, most folks are too busy living their lives and not likely to get too caught up in how and who they are going to be governed by.
Maybe they ought stop calling 'em incumbents and just call most of them what they are,, nincompoops.
Texas had its' primary on March 7 and the runoff on April 11.
ol' hoghead
I like your challenge though. I believe the current domestic atmosphere will bring to the fore some natural born leaders.
Garland Hogsed Jr. Democrat, not the incumbent. President of the Warne, NC Community Club.
BTTT
WEll, you *were* wondering what he's been up to.
Thanks!
May 5 is early but I think Florida's on Sept. 5 is later than I like.
The primary race has been going on here since Christmas when the locals started to annouce their candidacy.
Good luck on May 2......we need people like you in Congress!
The advice to think carefully about local candidates is a good one. In many cases, they are the ones who move up to higher offices later.
Not always, of course. In this Congressional district, one of the candidates has gone the "local office" route, first as State Rep, then State Senator, and now running for a House of Reps seat that will be vacant. He has several opponents who have never held public office. One of them is fairly wealthy and is outspending the candidate who has "paid his dues" in lower offices. He stands a good chance of winning.
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