I imagine it is very hard being a political candidate. You have to be everywhere all the time, you have to stay abreast of all the issues – even those that don’t fall under the capacity of the job you’re seeking, and you have to have a true understanding of what citizens genuinely need.
While I don’t feel everyone elected Tuesday represent all of these characteristics, I sure am glad this election is over – finally.
Now it’s time for work.
When Mayor Greg Ballard gave his acceptance speech, I heard a different man; he seemed amped and ready to work. Ballard was much more confident – almost cocky in his delivery. Since his oratory skills are often criticized, I suppose confident or even cocky are better than the alternative. Nonetheless, throughout his second term, Ballard must continuously prove why he deserves his job. Now is not the time for complacency or arrogance. Now is the time to truly be about the city’s business.
One of the key things the mayor will have to do is work with the Democratic majority in the City-County Council. While he has refused to meet with Democrat leaders in the past, he cannot afford to do that anymore. Since there will be no Black Republicans on the council next year, the Black Democrats will represent all Blacks. If Ballard refuses to meet with them his lack of actions will be an abandonment of the Black community and we might quite possibly see a deadlock in the community.
I also hope Ballard maintains a clean nose during his second term. The day after the election, the mayor met with leading state Republican lawmakers to discuss plans for a mass transit system. Ballard needs to be mindful of what he does with state officials and the city needs to keep watch to ensure that any plans are discussed in a transparent manner and decided with public input.
Melina Kennedy ran a solid campaign and she worked hard. I really believe she is a forward-thinker who could have served the city well if given the chance. Many people feel that Kennedy’s negative ads sealed her mayoral fate and they are probably right. I wonder if Kennedy would have received the same complaints if she was a man. It’s a question certainly worth considering, particularly since she was often deemed “too soft” when she ran for prosecutor. Kennedy got tougher during her race for mayor and it was too much for some people. Seems as if she is damned if she does and damned if she doesn’t.
During his first term, Ballard received rave reviews for improving infrastructure and demolishing abandoned houses. When his second term begins, I would like Ballard to adapt one of Kennedy’s philosophies and focus more on education, as addressing it early on will result in a better-equipped society and reduced crime in the future.
Tuesday’s election wasn’t just about the mayor’s race; but also the City-County Council. There were several first-timers elected into office for both political parties. My hope for these “freshmen” is that they stay true to the constituents who elected them and don’t get caught up in the politics of politics. Too often I’ve seen candidates who had a true passion for the community and genuinely wanted to make a difference, be swept into the lures of self-gratification. In other words they made deals or “sold-out” for their own personal benefit. It is a disappointing thing to witness, but it happens all the time. The freshman councilors need to stay focused on the plight of the community that elected them. As with Ballard, council members (new or old) don’t need to rest on their laurels. If they do, it’s only a matter of time before they will be unseated by someone the public feels is better qualified to represent their view. All across the world people are thinking differently and reacting differently in reference to government in general and elected officials in particular. No longer is the general public just sitting around waiting for someone to change their way of thinking. People are becoming more proactive and taking the measures to institute positive change.
Speaking of being proactive, data show that during this year’s election, people split their vote. This proves the point that gone are the days when the majority or people cast their vote based on their political affiliation or race. People are actually voting for the best candidate – period. Now that’s forward thinking.
You can email comments to Shannon Williams at shannonw@indyrecorder.com.
