by Ben Chapman, Candidate for County Board District 1
It’s no secret that some voters vote one party straight down the ballot. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it takes almost no thought. However, I doubt I would be hard-pressed to convince you that unquestioningly voting for one party is not always in the best interests of voters. Undeniably, party affiliation does offer some hints regarding a person’s ideology, but for some elected positions, this may not be the best strategy.
In November, Champaign County will elect new Sixth Circuit Judges, as well as a new County Sheriff. On your ballot, these candidates will come labeled with a party affiliation. I urge you, as a voter, to consider these characteristics as of secondary importance.
In the case of judgeships, qualities of a good judge are integrity, fairness, and thorough comprehension of the law. Though ideological leanings may factor into these qualities, the role they play is secondary.
Likewise, for Sheriffs, law enforcement expertise, criminal justice experience, and leadership abilities are more important characteristics for a good Sheriff than party affiliation.
However, there is one other elected body that should be considered through similarly party-blind lenses.
Our County Board has become far too wrought with partisanship and our community discourse has suffered because of it. This has to be fixed in the ballot booth.
While Board positions are certainly not as technocratic as those of sheriffs or judgeships, party affiliation for County Board candidates should still take a secondary role in the voter’s mind. Why? Because first and foremost the County Board should be a collection of citizens of diverse perspectives who care for their community, love their community, and have a passion for improving life in the community.
The County Board meets only twice monthly and is made up of citizens from a wide array of professions — only a few being political in a traditional sense. We should view this governing body as what it is: A collection of individuals elected and trusted by our County to wisely and justly appropriate funds for needed services. Meetings should not feel adversarial as they do now, but should rather feel as a group of neighbors working towards a common goal.
This type of cooperation requires encouragement from voters. As the general election nears, I invite candidates and citizens to make a pact. My fellow candidates and I must aim to keep our ears open to a wide range of ideas and to grant equal weight to the concerns of every constituent, regardless of whether we receive their support. In return, voters should listen fairly to all candidates, giving everyone a chance to make their case.
We are all greater than our party label, and we all have more to offer to our community than simply the letter by our name.
In this tense political era, the upcoming election can either be a catalyst for division or a chance to prove our neighborliness. Personally, I’ll be working for the latter.
As Ben’s opponent I cannot agree more. The hyper partisanship at the Federal level does not need to filter down to the local level. I have seen public commentary where persons in this county have labeled people of one party or another as “homophobic” or “racists” or “misogynists”. I realize that I may be naive, but I have not found that to be the case with the people whom I have served with over the past 18 months on either side of the aisle politically. While we disagree on many issues (maybe due in part to political influences), in the end we LISTEN to both sides of the arguement and each person tries to do what they believe is the best for all people of the county. That doesn’t mean that every constituent is going to like every decision. There have been decisions over the last 18 months where my opinion and the opinion of most of my district are in the minority. That is what makes our democratic republic so great! In the end we all need to work together and treat each other as we want to be treated.