CITIES: Choosing Candidates in Nonpartisan Races
By Bunni Pounds & Jami McCain
Regardless of what is happening nationally, we can effect great change somewhere very close to home – our local CITY elections.
With the average city in Texas only producing 1% to 8% voter turnout for a municipal election, believers in Jesus Christ can have even MORE of a voice than any other election.
We have seen elections in recent years that have been decided by 1 vote, 10 votes, or Jami only lost her mayoral race in Cedar Hill in 2019 by 252 votes (53 to 47%). One small neighborhood or church could have made the difference there.
Local government really impacts our day to day lives more than our federal government.
How are our parks upkept in our neighborhood?
Who picks up our trash?
What kind of economic development is going on near our local business?
Are alcohol sales or strip clubs being allowed near our neighborhood?
How are our local property taxes impacted by the decisions of our local government? Are we keeping a strong police force to keep our neighborhoods safe?
Are all the areas of our town receiving the same infrastructure of water, electricity, internet to prosper and is our city government leaders helping or hurting those efforts?
How is city zoning impacting our churches?
What looks like mundane issues to ordinary people can have a huge impact on our churches, schools, and families.
We MUST VOTE in every election – not just in general elections.
If we, as believers, are the ones seeking wisdom and discernment to impact our society – then we need to seek to choose wisely in our municipal elections. We will not get it right all the time – but we can pray over our ballots, research our ballots, and dive a little deeper into what is happening in our cities and watch God move leaders in who will cultivate good decision making and justice for all people.
So, we now know it is important to vote in local elections - the question then comes down to how to be a good citizen and choose candidates in nonpartisan races. How do we do that with wisdom when there are not R’s and Ds beside people’s names.
Choose a good listener who treats everyone with respect
In politics, at any level of government, there is no such thing as someone who agrees with you on everything. What matters most - especially in local government - is that the candidate or elected official makes them accessible to listen to all sides of a debate, individual citizens, community groups, and wants to serve with the big picture in mind. If we do not pick someone who respects all the communities in the city – it will be hard to bring people together to solve problems.
Choose someone with moral character
The leader doesn’t have to be a believer in Jesus to be an honest and hard-working individual. Though we need to MAKE sure that they have a moral compass, they respect the rule of law, and they want to do everything to protect the families of the community. Ask questions. Interview the candidate. We always take a risk in voting for people we don’t know intimately, but we cannot know them all. Just know this - we can typically trust someone who lets us know where they stand and what their plans are for the future of the city. If they are vague and will not come out and give straight answers – be aware.
Choose someone with a history of service
Sweat equity is a good thing. Do they have executive leadership abilities? Analyze and think through – have we seen this person before in our city or community? Have they done something in service? Like we have talked about before, they don’t have to have experience in city government before, but they need to have been a business leader, church leader, or a community leader in an organization? Have we seen them around or are they just showing up to run for something? Their name should already be known to us in some way if they have served previously.
Choose someone who will make a good team member
A city council is a TEAM, so we need to pick a good team member that can impact the other team players. It's not as easy as picking a candidate based on one key issue like being 'pro-life' or being the 'good Southern Baptist' in town. What does the team look like that will best lead your city? Who is the peace maker in the group? Who is the troublemaker – who pushes everyone’s buttons and stirs debate up? Who has big visions and sees what is beyond the next 10 years? Who is “down to earth” and has practical wisdom? Look and see what your city team needs and vote in that person. We know from scripture that when all parts of the Body of Christ are working together, it produces a great product. The same is true of city government. When we set in place a great team – we will have a great city.
Lastly, choose a candidate who responds correctly if they lose
Local elections are hard. We are competing against friends - neighbor running against neighbor. It can be very bloody. Races can get personal. Very fast. How has the leader you are voting for dealt with defeat and setbacks? Have they been on a committee where they lost a fight? Did they automatically go on the defensive? Do they start destroying other people around them? The issue with LOCAL government is that when there is a big blow up, fight, or election – the next day, we still must shop in our community together, we must see each other in our carpool lines, we must attend church together. We must overcome and love our “enemies.” Our local communities are the perfect place to walk out love and forgiveness, but it can be so hard! How is this leader that we are voting for dealt with issues of division and anger? Have they overcome and come back into the fight to make a difference?
City government is so EXTREMELY important and getting involved on the local level will not seem “sexy” or cool – but it can impact our families and churches more than anything else.
Let us PRAY for our local officials. Let’s VOTE in every election. Know that by ENGAGING in political education and activism - we are making a difference. Our one or two voices at our local city council meetings might be the rising tide of change to protect our communities for years to come.
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