What I look for in candidates
Bypassing slogans, personality and party, here are three important things I look for when voting this fall.
1. Our country was built on separation of church and state. I support candidates that stick with our country’s foundational principle. Surprisingly, that eliminates a lot of incumbents.
2. Candidates who are not supported by Americans for Prosperity, founded by the billionaire Koch brothers. Americans for Prosperity gave us Citizens United. Now we have endless super PACS, often with donors in hiding — thus billions are spent on the voting wars that we are weary of. (And did you receive fat envelopes promoted by them, with another sound-good slogan, Right to Work? Actually, it is anti-union. NH has resisted this one.)
3. Finally, I will vote for candidates who respond to their constituents, even when there is disagreement. I respect those who reply and discuss the reasons for their votes. This matters even more to me after recently receiving no response to two letters and an email from our county representative.
More than ever, a lot of information is needed to inform our vote. It helps me to look away from party affiliation and consider what a candidate stands for. May the election results give us what the people need most: our tax dollars well-spent and basic services provided.