Commissioner too old for re-election

Why would I want to vote for someone who probably will not run for re-election in 4 years. 

1. Lots of people don't want the incumbents back. They'd rather have 4 year term limits.

2. How many candidates do you hear or see saying 'experienced leadership' or words to that affect? A 38 year old has more experience than a 62 - 65 year old? I don't think so.

3. I'd rather have someone doing a great job for 4 years then go back to being retired than someone that wants to do 8 doing a mediocre job.

4. If it is for retirement, how many years and how much money are you going to pay that 38 year old after they do 8 years compared to a 66 - 70 year old that did 4?

5. Think about it. The older person has one shot at doing good. They are going to do their best to make it so.

6. If they old fogy isn't any good you don't have to worry about not reelecting him. He's not going to run anyway.

7. I'll leave this and higher numbers for others to list their reasons.

Mike Heemer

Why would you run if you didn't want to be re-elected in four years. Again that is two 4 year terms.  Not one eight year term.   You would do your best so that the people would want to re-elect you.

If they are only going for four years it doesn't matter if they do good or not; they are not coming back.

Age discrimination?  Glad you are not an employer peggy1958, or else the oldies might starve to death.  Why not try looking at the qualifications and the motives for running in the first place?  Hey!  Silly me, I thought 50 year olds had some sense.

There is a big difference between a job and running the county. 

What is the big difference?  I thought a Job was a Job and that you were to do the very best you could as if you were the owner of the company!  No matter if you were the janator or the president!  Jeez!

You have a point.  If they are only in it for one term I doubt they make it a top priority.

According to the bio on Channel 4's website the third cadidate Mr. McCall is 46 not 38.   

There are a couple of 38 year olds running Peggy unless you are talking only D1.

I think anyone running whether for 1 or 2 terms wants to do their best if for no other reason than ego.

You would do your best so that the people would want to re-elect you.

Here's where my mind may run on a different plain than others. I wouldn't be doing my best so that people would re-elect me. I'd be doing my best because it is the right thing to do. If you are worried about what people think of you and whether or not they will vote for you again you are thinking about the wrong thing.

If you do your job and do the right thing then everything else will follow. People will vote for you again because they know you will continue to do a good job and do the right thing, not because you sucked up to them to get a vote.

If they are only going for four years it doesn't matter if they do good or not; they are not coming back.

Could you not make the same statement about anyone that is running for a second term? Hey, they are going to tem out after this one so why worry about what kind of job they do?

Mike Heemer

Ms. Peggy, I have to say that the lunatics sparring over CCAC, while offensive at best, have just been topped by your missive. What is too old and who are you to declare so?

Thanks to bigotry like yours, I have been unemployed for 2 1/2 years in anything resembling what my former work was. Oh sure, I could help bag groceries, or smile at shoppers in Wal Mart but that is just not putting my talents to their best use. One day, dearie, you, too, will be deemed too old. What makes it so galling is that those who will do so will be so much younger and even more ignorant than you if you can even imagine that. Somehow, I don't think you can.

Lily's Lore "I don't ever want to be rescued And I don't ever want to be saved I got a feelin' that I'm gonna be alive forever Dancin' on the edge of a grave..." Jim Steinman

If you survive the election process and happen to win, four years is a long time for anyone to serve. One reason I can see for someone running again is because they feel something is unfinished and they want to see it through.  Another reason has been mentioned here before, building a resume` for another desired position.

To run in the first place is a huge exercise in courage. 

As far as being too old, you are never too old as long as you possess a skill that someone else desires.  Common sense and experience are invaluable.  No, common sense doesn't always come with age but most older people have learned to weed out the nonsense because they have watched years of the results of not looking at the big picture. They know there is no better time than the present to make a difference.

The physical limitations of aging can be an issue if you're talking about a job that requires a particular level or strength of activity.  When it comes to political office I think the wisdom that comes with age is a valuable asset to have. 

So far as someone who seeks to only serve one term number 1 you can't believe it necessarily, people tend to change their minds about those things.  2. Someone who seeks to serve only one term may do so because they know they will not play ball with special interests. When special interests group together to promote or oust they're a powerful lot.  A person who intends to go in guns blazing for the taxpayer can do more good in four years then that of a career politician who gets the business backers only if they perform to their liking.   Those who aren't looking for a career are more likely to listen to their constinuents then they are their financial backers. 

Personally I believe our Senior Citizens are one of our greatest treasures, and I am glad that age discrimination is against the law.

As long as they can do the job and are not suffering from dementia they can be 80 years old for all I care. However, some in office now that are far younger have memory problems.

Peggy, why someone would seek office while not wanting to serve a second four-year term is one I had to consider when I was running.  I guess the reasons would be as personal and varied as there were candidates committed to only one term of service, as few as those are.  But here's why I made the commitment to one and one term only if I had happened to get elected.

Some of it was easy for me, because it wouldn't have been a stepping stone to anything but the back elevator at the Admin Building that Commissioners can use to avoid any angry crowds gathering at the regular-folks elevators in the front.  And I've got an ego, but it's not the kind of things that accompany public office that stroke it.

My personal commitment to serve just one term was because I think government would be best served by someone who made decisions without consideration for even the possibility of considering a run for re-election.  It comes from a core belief that politics has become government's priority, instead of service.

If I happened to have been elected and served four years, I'm sure there would be unaccomplished goals, including some that could be fulfilled in a second term.  But if elected a second term, four years later there would still be unfulfilled goals.  Someone who has served as long as County Commission Chairman George Bush will leave office knowing if he just had another four years he could wrap some things up.

You mentioned, Peggy, that a politician would do his best so people would want to re-elect them and that certainly makes sense.  But it's not the only reason an individual would do their best.  If getting re-elected had appeared on my priority, if would have not come close to the top 10 reasons I would have attempted to do my best.

A re-election campaign can serve as a pretty good report card for the first four years in office.  But that brings me back to my core belief that politics has overwhelmed service in government.  The perception of what government does has become as important as what government actually does, and much of that is caused by decisions based on the effect they'll have on re-election bids.

And I do disagree that there's a difference between a job and running the county, which is another reason the commitment to one-term only was easy for me.  A county commissioner is just a member of the board of directors of a publicly-held service-providing corporations.  Just a job, part-time at that.

I don't know why anyone else would make the same decision, but at least there's one perspective in answer to your question.

Michael S. Mann

michaelsmann@comcast.net

I don't feel age should be a deciding factor.

If the person has the ability, wisdom, and character to do the job that should be good enough.

It is a slippery slope we slide down when we put such limitations on folks. What will be next ? only the pretty person should get the job ? Or the one with the best hair ?

Wisdom, character, and skill level, will trump, age, looks, and hair every time.

We should vote for who will do the best job for our people, period. 

TRUTHHURTS

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Age discrimination may be against the law, but it is alive and well in the workforce.  I had problems in my 50's after working 35 years in one area only to be turned away by the same type companies.  I'm in my 60's now, and I'll tell you something Peggy, I can still work circles around people younger than me, both physically and mentally.  I hope you're doing as well when you're my age.  :)