Dear Editor,
Last week in Weiser the Republican candidates for Washington County and District 9 participated in a candidates’ forum at the Vendome. The event was well attended.
Each candidate was able to introduce themselves, answer questions then was afforded time for a closing statement. There was no debate and no follow-up questions for clarification which was disappointing but understandable due to time constraints.
As I listened to the candidates, I thought to myself, wow, this person or that person was saying exactly what I believed. I got caught up in the moment. But what was real and what was theater? All claimed to be Republican and most claimed to live and die by our Constitution but do they really, or are they too good to be true?
How does the average citizen find out the truth? Do we believe the candidates at their word, or do we take time to find out as much as possible about that candidate before we vote? For incumbent candidates or past office holders, a quick check of their voting record paints a clearer picture of whether they align with your values or not. But what about the candidates who have never held office or are newcomers to the community? How are we to know the truth? It is the worst kept secret in Idaho that people will claim to be conservative and register republican to get elected, then once in office turn their backs on those who put them there. We see it every day and it is my fear that at this forum we have candidates doing just that.
Some candidates talk a good talk, almost too good, but we know nothing of what they have done in the past and there is little or no information to be found by the average citizen. They use vague references, but no specifics. We don’t know what their past politics have been, how they have voted, what names they have used in the past, how long they have been in the district and who supports and finances them. In trying to find information on some candidates it is almost like they have scrubbed their past and created a new persona that will be in alignment with the current electorate just to get elected to office. In this I wonder, what is the candidate hiding? If something seems too good to be true, it usually is.
Remember, elections have consequences and this election cycle the stakes are higher than ever. Make sure to do your research and do not take any candidate at face value because what you see is not always what you get.
