Answer the Door, Engage the Candidates – Pasadena Now

Local City Council candidates and the Mayor began pulling papers this week.

Districts 1, 2, 4 and 6 are up for grabs along with the Mayor’s race.

And District 3 will be decided due to the City Charter’s appointment process which calls for the seat to be decided at the first General Municipal Election after the appointment.

Two races have garnered a lot of local attention.

If all candidates pony up the $25 bucks and get the necessary signatures then Rick Cole will try and wrest away the District 2 seat from Felicia Williams.

And Brandon Lamar will attempt to unseat Justin Jones.

Not here to make a call on either race.

The incumbents and the challengers are going to have to fight it out for your votes.

I hope the races stay clean.

However, based on some of the stuff that has already happened.

Well let’s just say – prepare for mud.

It is unfortunate because all four of these people have unique qualifications that make them viable candidates.

If you live in District 2, 3 remember this.

I’ll toss D6 in there since it appears Steve Madison will have opponents.

It’s about you and what you want for your neighborhood.

Hopefully at some point, the prospective candidates hoping to represent the area will knock on your door.

Open it, and engage them.

Don’t be afraid to ask them hard questions.

And keep this in mind when you are talking to them, the candidates are there to earn your vote, not show you how smart they are or make you scared of the other candidate.

Every candidate and incumbent should have a desire to serve the City and the district they represent first and foremost.

That’s it.

Yes, they need to listen and engage their constituents.

But that’s part of serving and leading.

If they can’t stop talking and listen, well that’s something to take note of.

You can’t lead if you can’t follow.

Keep in mind, it takes a different kind of person to stand up, give up their time, listen to people’s complaints, nonsensical conspiracy theories and take the slings and arrows that sometimes come with the job.

I’m not looking for a lot of humility, just a willingness to engage – well maybe a dash of humility wouldn’t hurt.

We deal with issues big and small locally.
To quote one Councilmember from the election four years ago, now is not the time for dabblers.

It never is.

The incumbents and candidates are doing their part by asking to serve.

Do your part.