Political Candidates - How low have our expectations become?

Participating in and now watching the remainder of the 2014 primary season here in Johnson County, Texas I have become increasingly disgusted with the state of the process and the quality of the individuals that run for office and sometimes actually get elected.  I have also gained a new understanding of the power of holding office and the ability it bestows on influencing voters who are quick to take sides because they are told to.  There is no shortage of wolves among the flocks and their sheep costumes are very convincing.

Johnson County is ripe with this scenario.  Due to the fact that our population is low, on a slower growth rate than other areas for decades and has many multi-generational residents the formula for the "good ole boy network" is at a fever pitch.  The ability for so many people to look for elected representation no further than someone who has just been around for a long time is pretty remarkable.  Furthermore, it has been really amazing to see people outsource their own candidate research to local groups and individuals.

The centerpiece of my run for Joshua City Council and Johnson County Commissioner was integrity.  I held myself to an extremely high standard and do the same for anyone else running for office.  People have different ideas on how to make a campaign successful and I do not agree with all of them, but the person behind the signs, websites and newspaper answers is of great concern.  Over the years spent in local government and interacting with politicians and activists in Johnson County and beyond I have had the opportunity to see what goes on on the inside and how people are when they think nobody is watching.  We have some powerful and dangerous people around.  Powerful in the sense that they are already in power or very tight with those who are and dangerous in that a lot of people think they are looking out for them when in fact they are only looking out for themselves and their small circle of interconnected friends.

Over the years we have seen the downward spiral of the quality of people elected to office all over America.  Adulterers, thieves, liars, tax cheats.  The list goes on and on.  Probably a pretty good cross-section of sinners that we all can count ourselves members of, really.  That does not mean that there are not better individuals out there though.  We all have fallen short of the glory of God, but not everyone who runs for office is that bad. What are our standards though?  It seems they have gotten lower and lower in what is acceptable.  Personally, I'm maintaining a high bar for myself and for others.  It's a must if we're to survive as a nation.

Here's an example of something that many will say "Oh that's just sour grapes." or "Come on, really?  That's pretty minor."  Well I don't see it that way.  Current Johnson County Precinct 4 Commissioner run-off candidate, Larry Woolley, has been running an ad touting his endorsement from Johnson County Sheriff, Bob Alford.  The Sheriff is quoted as saying that Woolley has attended commissioners court for "over a year".  A simple statement and it sounds good.  What does it imply?  Seems like that statement says that Woolley has been going to commissioner court meetings for over a year.  Would you take it to mean anything else?  The fact is Larry Woolley started regularly attending commissioners court meetings last August, a few weeks before announcing his candidacy.  Now I do not blame Sheriff Alford for the error.  Though he is at most meetings the Sheriff is not at every one and would not be expected to maintain a record of every audience member's attendance.  Maybe the statement was really written by Woolley's camp or maybe the talking points were given to the Sheriff, maybe the Sheriff wrote it all on his own with no suggestions at all.  None of that matters because in the end it was read, approved and distributed by the Woolley campaign.  I waited a week to see if a correction would come out and when one did not I contacted Larry Woolley to point out the error.  Here's the reply I received back:

"The statement regarding attendance at commissioners court meetings is true.  I started attending again  last spring and then regularly during the summer and have continued.  Actually, I have been in attendance for a number of years.  The statement does not indicate perfect attendance.  I was also in attendance 2 years ago and would regularly sit with Kenny Howell, who was then pursuing the Pct. 2 seat.  Prior to that, I attended a number of court meetings  4 years ago when I was considering running for commissioner when I had thought Don Beeson was not planning on running for re-election.  Having served in a contractual relationship with Johnson County from time to time, I have attended court meetings periodically since around 1991 when that long-term relationship began."

As a regular attender for several years ending in March I have been witness to court attendance.  Most of the time it was me and the newspapers so it was obvious when someone else was there.  "The statement does not indicate perfect attendance"? "In attendance for a number of years"?  "regularly during the summer and have continued"?  First of all summer is not yet here so his continual attendance is still not at a year.  Nine months at the time the ad came out.  This is political exaggeration and most people just accept it as part of the dirty and now acceptable world of politics.  We can do better.

Here's what a statement with integrity behind it would have said - "almost a year" or "many times and now regularly for nearly a year".  Simple.  That doesn't sound as good though and may not get as many votes.  What's important to the Woolley campaign then?  The truth or the votes?

Words matter. Details matter.  Integrity matters.

A.J.