Comments on: Mayor Norris and fellow Democrats to undermine opponent Andrew Williamsâ€™ council candidacy through appointment to Planning Commission?

By: blair

blair — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:51:28 +0000

A write-in candidate almost never wins. Yet they keep popping up. Supervisor Sally Thomas won as write-in when the candidate on the ballot withdrew at the last minute. The most famous write-in winner is Robert Byrd of W. Va. on an anti-integration platform back in the day.

The primary role of the write-in is to influence the debate, to bring forth issues and ideas otherwise ignored. Write-in candidates are normally refused a seat at forums. But a certified candidate is taken more seriously. The certificate (3 forms) notifies the government that you intend to conduct an active political campaign of some sort.

I remember at my first forum, Meredith Richards asked me about my petition. I showed it to her. She said it had only one signature. I said, that’s right. It only takes one person to petition the government to inform them you will exercise your right to run and campaign for elected office.

I wish Rick, as member of the electoral board, would talk more constructively about the write-in option and why we have it in the first place, and how citizens can make use of the process. Williams may be a “toothless candidate” but that has nothing to do with his write-in status. We’ll have to see how his message resonates now and into the future.

“2000 Revenue Sharing speech on video”, Mar. 10, 2008. Certified write-in candidate brings it to the big boys.

By: Cville Eye

Cville Eye — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:53:58 +0000

@Rick Sincere, apply “he would do much better if he has a city board or commission appointment under his belt, with the experience in policy making that comes with that.” Now apply that statement to Kristin Szakos.

By: Gary

Gary — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:12:24 +0000

This may be a classic case of bluff. If Mr. Williams can leverage his potential,
long shot, political candidacy for a seat on the prestigious Planning Commission,
I would say that is an excellent political move that is a mark of a potentially
rising politician in this city. Mr. Rick Sincere is correct that Mr. Williams needs
to become more focused and organized in reaching his political objectives. Since
he is related to a former Mayor of, I believe, a Midwestern city, there may be
some family resources to tap. In a related vein, President Barack Obama learned
some of these skills after an unsuccessful bid for a Congressional seat in the
Chicago area of Illinois.

By: rick_sincere

rick_sincere — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:28:16 +0000

Let’s be realistic. A write-in candidate with no money, no experience, and no campaign organization has virtually no chance of being elected. Neither does he pose a threat to the ruling party.

If Mr. Williams wants to run for City Council someday — when he is sufficiently focused and organized to complete the qualifying process to be on the ballot — he would do much better if he has a city board or commission appointment under his belt, with the experience in policy making that comes with that.

An appointment to the Planning Commission would be a generous gesture on the part of City Council. To suggest it is a clever means of “undermining” a toothless candidate gives Mayor Norris and his friends credit for being more diabolical than they can ever hope to be.