Know the candidates, not the mantra
To the editor:
Too much has been written and made about the Contract on Cape Coral, the people who developed this innocuous document, and the slate of candidates who have signed it. The important focus of the voters must be on the candidates that this small group has put forward for election and what their individual capabilities truly are relative to those of their opponents. And, with the truly disastrous turnout of Cape’s voters for the primary, it is even more important for those who are voting to know for whom they are voting, and why.
Truthfully, while each person from this slate should be thanked for standing up and running for office, there is not much about which the voters should feel confident with three of these individuals. The mayoral candidate, while a consistent UEP activist, has demonstrated he has too little true practical knowledge of the multitude of issues and opportunities with which this city will deal over the next few years outside of the UEP. The slate candidate for District 6, while likely having been an outstanding police officer, has no background with which to even develop positions he can communicate. The slate District 4 candidate has no positions he has brought forward himself, and has little represented background and knowledge of his own to develop those that would be beneficial to the city, a condition he has previously acknowledged in multiple forums. And, I trust I won’t hear each of these candidates state that they would implement the Finance Advisory Committee recommendations to any and all questions regarding the budget one more time without an understanding of them, as they have repeatedly done since we presented our recommendations to Council. Out of this slate, the District 1 candidate is the one who is a potentially viable candidate, and I look forward to more discussions between him and his opponent, who appears to also be a viable candidate, over the next month.
While we keep hearing the same clamor for change that was heard during the last city and U.S. elections, just what has that brought for us? This year, a small group of community organizers has composed this slate of candidates to run for office and has created a marketing campaign borrowing Gingrich’s “contract” concept and Obama’s “change” concept, which, while humorous, is of no true importance nor practical value to us. The important issue is whether the backgrounds and experiences that these associated individuals have individually are those which we want representing us on Council and as mayor.
Please don’t listen to the rhetoric and do your own fact finding about the candidates, their knowledge, and their positions before you vote. Please know the candidates, and, then, please vote! It is too important for the future of our city and our community as a whole.
Steve Riggs
Cape Coral