Competition is welcome for local elected offices
A trip to the Warren County Election Commission indicates it’s going to be a hectic season on the local political front.
From McMinnville to Morrison, seats are being contested on city government boards. When it comes to democracy – one of the backbones of our country – it’s refreshing to see so much interest.
The biggest office up for grabs is the position of McMinnville mayor. For some time, it appeared a race wouldn’t materialize and current Mayor Royce Davenport would waltz into another term unopposed.
The Standard is glad to see that didn’t happen – and that’s not to say Davenport hasn’t done a quality job representing the citizens of McMinnville. He’s been an effective leader who has pushed for the city to take action when for years it had been passive.
But without opposition, Davenport wouldn’t be accountable to the people. If there’s no other name on the ballot, he couldn’t be voted out of office.
It’s the same with any elected official all the way up to the state and national levels. No opposition means politicians don’t have to answer to their actions. In order to get the best representation possible, that’s not healthy.
That’s why it’s a welcome sight to see former alderman Rickey Jones try for the job as McMinnville mayor. It gives residents a choice. If they are well pleased with the job Davenport has done, vote him back for another four years. If it’s time for a change, then Jones provides an alternative who has city government experience. It’s a win-win situation.
The same can be said for elections in Morrison and Viola where more candidates are running than there are positions available. That means voters have the luxury of choosing the best available person instead of settling for the only person running.
In order for democracy to work, there has to be people willing to represent their city, their state, and their country. If there’s only one candidate, it doesn’t make for a challenging race.