Nov. 4 is quickly approaching, and the game of politics resembles a game of checkers rather than chess. Some Democratic elected officials have endorsed the Republican County Executive candidate, others have chosen to keep quiet, and the County Executive race itself is taking sucker punches outside of the ring. The prizefighters are the Prosecuting Attorney, City of Ferguson, militarized police and the future of black America and, more specifically, the St. Louis metro area.
The responsibility of any elected official is to represent the common interests and values of his or her constituents. All too often egos, hurt feelings, personal agendas and silly games of revenge lend to a tone of poor leadership.
Let’s be clear, a Democratic vote for a Republican candidate, a write-in campaign for a deceased person, or abstaining from voting sends one message: a message of misguided efforts, short-sighted responses and knee-jerk reactions. Furthermore, it does nothing to advance the “movement”!
In fact, it hinders the process of the protracted struggle and gains of the democratic process and stifles the long-term prospects for a better St. Louis County. It hastens the increasing gap between the haves and have-nots and furthers an agenda that squeezes the life out of hard-working families. It isn’t about the title of Administrator or County Executive , Democrat or Republican, but more about the mindset and beliefs that ultimately dictate the type of leader one will be.
I believe access to health care, Medicaid expansion, raising the minimum wage, inclusion, diversity and progressive women’s issues are important. More important is the mindset of the leader with these shared beliefs charged with governing these issues.
Any vote rooted in retaliation, rather than a well thought out, long-term plan, is dangerous and has the potential to leave a Democratic county impotent and lifeless. The only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. An attempt to swallow it whole will only result in choking.
On November 4, I will be casting my vote for Steve Stenger for County Executive. A vote rooted in the idea of what’s important to my family, my community and my constituents means continued progress towards economic development, education improvement and better senior services for St. Louis County.
Leadership that matters, real people, real issues!
Follow attorney and Democratic activist Leslie T. Broadnax on Twitter at @LeslieBroadnax.
