I am disgusted about last week’s elections – not only on the candidates, but also the trifling folks who were too lazy to go to the polls and vote for some damn good choices. Those candidates lost or had a poor showing because far too many people have become jaded about the political process and, therefore, want the television version of elections as opposed to the reality.
President Barack Obama’s campaign was a rare fairy-tale candidacy. But for all others, it is very hard work to try and get your name and opinions on the radar for the average voters.
Running for office is a decision that most sincere candidates don’t take lightly. It is a sacrifice of their time, feelings, money and, most of all, their energy as they go about trying to convince voters that if they given a chance, they will work to make a difference.
One of the biggest losers in last week’s election was Sylvester Baker. This was his third attempt to become the Cook County sheriff, and black folks, who represent about 70 percent of the inmates’ population, did a piss poor job of coming out to support this man in his quest.
Not only was Sylvester Baker highly qualified for the job, he came with ideas to give inmates knowledge so that they wouldn’t find themselves coming back to jail. But it is obvious that the black community loves the idea of their sons and daughters being incarcerated. If they didn’t, they would have done a better job of supporting Baker in his effort to become the Democratic nominee for Cook County sheriff.
So the next time those of you who didn’t vote or voted to keep the incumbent sheriff in office have a loved one at the jail, remember it was your indifference to the election that helps to keep the status quo, and you can’t complain.
Another big loser in last week’s elections was Dorothy Brown. After all the talk about her qualifications and lead in the polls, voters weren’t fooled. This was the second time that Brown has indicated she is dissatisfied with her position as clerk of the circuit court.
Three years ago, as Bill “Dock” Walls ran a campaign for mayor; she entered at the last minute to split the black vote. She lost. Now she again demonstrated her dissatisfaction with the job she has by running for county board president to again split the black vote.
Fortunately, many voters saw her candidacy for the farce it was and will remember it when the 2012 elections come along. As one politically savvy person told me, no longer will Brown be able to run for re-election unopposed. From the same names on her petitions as Terry O’Brien, to the jean’s-day scandal, Brown has dug her own brown pile and the stench is obvious.
Then there were a lot of losers in the race to become a Metropolitan Water Reclamation District commissioner. I don’t know why that job attracted the attention of so many individuals, but the names and pedigrees of the ones who did run were like a who’s who list.
Some were immensely qualified to do the job while others spent more money on the campaign than they would make over the six-year period for the job in salary. That immediately has my curiosity piqued, and at some point in the future I will follow up.
Contact: www.arlenejones.blogspot.com
