I can remember my younger years when I only concerned myself with national politics. We are socialized and educated to focus on the highest offices of the land but, in reality, it’s the local stuff that matters. Across the nation, supporters and propagators of the Big Lie are running for office with one mission — to undermine our democracy. State legislatures have passed hundreds of bills since 2020 to prevent folks from voting. But not just any folks, but folx (Google it). Now, more than ever, we have to pay attention to local politics.
Who we elect to our special districts, school boards, city councils, county board and state Legislature matters. It’s the stuff that really impacts our day-to-day lives. Since 2020, we’ve really experienced these local officials’ impact. For example, if schools stayed open or closed, whether or not students have to wear masks, setting up vaccination sites, providing funding for small businesses to stay afloat, even giving funding for students to get internet access at home.
Even issues like much housing can be built are under the responsibility of local electeds. At all income levels, we have people experiencing issues with housing. It’s why we see flight from those who grew up in San Mateo County, unable to stick around. And for those that come seeking opportunity, it is very difficult to find something affordable. Tell a Floridian that you’re paying over $3K/month for an old 2 bedroom/1 bath under 900 square feet and it will get them laughing. Local elections matter.
So it’s baffling when I read about local politicians in the paper, including this publication, and notice that writers don’t talk about policy. I’ll give an example. A columnist of the Daily Journal just last week wrote about the county supervisor’s race. He mentions the amount of money raised, their endorsements, the candidates’ ethnicity/race/sexual orientation, some assumptions of candidate strategy, and some demographics on the voters. But the main thing the columnist leaves out is the most important thing — what are the candidates planning to do if they win.
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I constantly write about why life experience and representation matter. I have called our politicos to heavily consider who they uplift and be part of leveling the playing field for all. I also call on politicos to make policy the top reason why they endorse, why they donate, and why they choose to help candidates. Too many times I’ve heard folks endorsing based on friendships or political expediency and completely excluding the policy. The policy is the thing those people running are being elected to do.
2022 is a crucial year. We are choosing our elected officials who will most likely be in office for the next decade, and in some cases, if our local history tells us anything, some of these folks will be in office for decades to come. I want to read about not how much a candidate raised, or how many friends endorsed them, but what they’re going to do when they take their oath of office, how they will serve the people of this county, and why their life experience most closely resembles the people they are running to represent. Because talking about how much money someone raised just tells us if their friends are “haves” or “have nots,” and that’s not a qualification to run for office. I also want to hear about politicos that break away from the status quo and help break the barriers that keep folx out of office.
We all have a responsibility to keep our beautiful democracy alive and well. Whether it’s simply showing up to vote, stepping up to run for office, or for those in power to extend that ladder for others to climb, we must take our responsibilities seriously and work for the greater good.
Rudy Espinoza Murray is a father, husband, Redwood City resident, and community organizer. He is a co-founder of the San Mateo County Farmworker Affairs Coalition and a director of the San Mateo County Resource Conservation District Board.
Local elections Are very important and “us” voters can influence them. Our elected leaders are playing with our money. It is our job to watch them closely.
Good column. Gone are the days when city councils met largely to approve a proposal to create a new park, thank a local service club for hosting the city's annual pancake breakfast, and accept budgets reports fed to them by city staffers. As you clearly stated... today... local elections matter.
I would take your observations a step further. I think collecting campaign funds and soliciting endorsements from the same circle of folks across the county has created interbred candidates. Politics as usual does not serve our county...
But there is another problem in this bluer than blue county... and you have raised it quite succinctly. Set aside the endorsement lists. What will candidates actually do if they are elected? I don't want to hear polemics... I want to hear policy. Kevin... Emily... David... take a break from the DNC's talking points. What will they do about the issues that directly affect county residents.
Finally, returning to remarks in your first paragraph re: what you have termed the "Big Lie"... I would submit that the actual lies concerning voter suppression are coming from the left side of the aisle. On this very subject, I asked Reverend Owens... why would we listen to Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, and Chuck Schumer instead of Tim Scott, Winsome Sears, and Ben Carson when it comes to voting rights. The progressive left wants us to believe it's 1962... it's not.
I guess the good news for us is that there is no Jim Crow era voter suppression in our local elections. However, there is plenty of political backscratching going on in this bluer than blue county.
Mr. Murray - I am pleasantly surprised to hear from you that the Big Lie, aka the Biden Administration, is further trying to trample on our democratic principles. Let's hope that candidates with agendas that are more in line with their constituents step up to the plate and win in November.
Mr. Murray – food for thought… Don’t you think that if we know who is endorsing a candidate, especially special interests and the amounts they contribute, we’d actually get a better idea of the candidate and what they’ll support when they get in office? If these candidates are running as Dems, perhaps they don’t have any policy statements because the Dem party hasn’t yet told them what their policy will be. We can only hope more states continue to pass election security laws. It’s only those people who aren’t allowed to vote which have issues with voting. If you’re a valid voter, you never had any issues with voting.
You continue to hype election security when you know, although you don't believe it, that the last election was the most secure and scrutinized election ever in America.
The majority of the fraud discovered was minuscule and also was mostly by Republicans. I asked you last week about the breaking news of the "Republicons" attempt to cheat again and didn't hear back. In case you missed it I will copy it again.
"Terence,
I am glad you agree that there is plenty of info available that show that there is no widespread voter fraud and stolen elections and the majority of fraud cases are by
Republicans. I am sure you saw that some conmen of the Republican party forged election certification papers from MI, NV, AZ, GA, WI saying they won and submitted them to the National Archives thinking they could overturn the election. The poor fools used the same form with different signatures for all five states."
Thank you. I believe that Terrance and ilk know the truth, but they fear anything that they can't control are profit by. There were many more voters and minimal fraud. This is why they want to make it harder to vote.
Oh dear, sounds like Mr. Gilbrech and Taffy are again trying to convince themselves that their secure election garbage is true. Smells like desperation. Especially as more and more news comes out each day about the Big Lie. You have to wonder why Dems are dead set against election audits. BTW Taffy, we’re still waiting for a treasonous Biden accomplishment. But don’t worry, we’re expecting par for the course from you – crickets. If you need help with your panda diet study, perhaps you can beg Mr. Gilbrech for help.
As you and your fellow Right Wing Propagandas' continue to push fear. I have to agree that all political activities and Candidate's should fully disclose all contributions and that includes corporate contributions.
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(8) comments
Local elections Are very important and “us” voters can influence them. Our elected leaders are playing with our money. It is our job to watch them closely.
Hello, Rudy
Good column. Gone are the days when city councils met largely to approve a proposal to create a new park, thank a local service club for hosting the city's annual pancake breakfast, and accept budgets reports fed to them by city staffers. As you clearly stated... today... local elections matter.
I would take your observations a step further. I think collecting campaign funds and soliciting endorsements from the same circle of folks across the county has created interbred candidates. Politics as usual does not serve our county...
But there is another problem in this bluer than blue county... and you have raised it quite succinctly. Set aside the endorsement lists. What will candidates actually do if they are elected? I don't want to hear polemics... I want to hear policy. Kevin... Emily... David... take a break from the DNC's talking points. What will they do about the issues that directly affect county residents.
Finally, returning to remarks in your first paragraph re: what you have termed the "Big Lie"... I would submit that the actual lies concerning voter suppression are coming from the left side of the aisle. On this very subject, I asked Reverend Owens... why would we listen to Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, and Chuck Schumer instead of Tim Scott, Winsome Sears, and Ben Carson when it comes to voting rights. The progressive left wants us to believe it's 1962... it's not.
I guess the good news for us is that there is no Jim Crow era voter suppression in our local elections. However, there is plenty of political backscratching going on in this bluer than blue county.
Mr. Murray - I am pleasantly surprised to hear from you that the Big Lie, aka the Biden Administration, is further trying to trample on our democratic principles. Let's hope that candidates with agendas that are more in line with their constituents step up to the plate and win in November.
Mr. Murray – food for thought… Don’t you think that if we know who is endorsing a candidate, especially special interests and the amounts they contribute, we’d actually get a better idea of the candidate and what they’ll support when they get in office? If these candidates are running as Dems, perhaps they don’t have any policy statements because the Dem party hasn’t yet told them what their policy will be. We can only hope more states continue to pass election security laws. It’s only those people who aren’t allowed to vote which have issues with voting. If you’re a valid voter, you never had any issues with voting.
Terence,
You continue to hype election security when you know, although you don't believe it, that the last election was the most secure and scrutinized election ever in America.
The majority of the fraud discovered was minuscule and also was mostly by Republicans. I asked you last week about the breaking news of the "Republicons" attempt to cheat again and didn't hear back. In case you missed it I will copy it again.
"Terence,
I am glad you agree that there is plenty of info available that show that there is no widespread voter fraud and stolen elections and the majority of fraud cases are by
Republicans. I am sure you saw that some conmen of the Republican party forged election certification papers from MI, NV, AZ, GA, WI saying they won and submitted them to the National Archives thinking they could overturn the election. The poor fools used the same form with different signatures for all five states."
BTW, how are you doing with your bamboo fibers?
Thank you. I believe that Terrance and ilk know the truth, but they fear anything that they can't control are profit by. There were many more voters and minimal fraud. This is why they want to make it harder to vote.
Oh dear, sounds like Mr. Gilbrech and Taffy are again trying to convince themselves that their secure election garbage is true. Smells like desperation. Especially as more and more news comes out each day about the Big Lie. You have to wonder why Dems are dead set against election audits. BTW Taffy, we’re still waiting for a treasonous Biden accomplishment. But don’t worry, we’re expecting par for the course from you – crickets. If you need help with your panda diet study, perhaps you can beg Mr. Gilbrech for help.
As you and your fellow Right Wing Propagandas' continue to push fear. I have to agree that all political activities and Candidate's should fully disclose all contributions and that includes corporate contributions.
Welcome to the discussion.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.