And… they’re off and running! Or, maybe not. The deadline’s passed for interested candidates to fill out paperwork for our upcoming August primary election, and the big winner is “unopposed”.
The number of candidates (279) for all local offices is down 15% from the 2020 total of 330 wannabes. In 2022, 401 candidates ran (more seats were available due, in part, to the once-a-decade legislature redistricting tied to the census). In 2024, it looks like the “ainokea” platform will sweep through. There are some interesting primary races and perhaps a few battles in the general election, but the excitement based on civic-minded citizens running for office here seems to be disappearing.
So what does it mean in a democracy when fewer people want to participate? Surely it results in less competition and accountability, with potentially less focus or engagement from walkover victors. After all, if you have no competition, why take chances, be bold, or make possibly controversial decisions/suggestions?
Being a politician nowadays is not easy, with rampant factionalism, trolls constantly seeking to cause angst, every word or move being videoed or dissected, and personal lives getting disrupted to the point where some have said- “enough already”. Long hours, lots of handshaking, everybody wants something, and everyone demands your attention. State legislators wade through 3,000+ bills annually. Too much humbug, perhaps?
Incumbents have face, name, and historical recognition working in their favor… unless they screw up. They also have funding coffers open 24/7/365; it’s not easy for a start-up campaign/candidate to quickly gain traction.
True competition keeps incumbents on their toes, attentive to the masses beyond rehashed promises to get things done, serve our keiki, keep younger residents from moving by creating jobs and housing, fix roads, develop new economic goldmines, greenify our state, etc. Lots of platforms to stand on with only so much government funding to spread around. Currently, there are thousands of unfilled, non-elected, City and State jobs; maybe the allure of government work has dissipated.
We need the next generation(s) to step up, with a “if it’s to be, it’s up to me!” attitude. It takes some ego, chutzpah, self-esteem, and a lot of support to run for office and succeed. Let’s hope this diminished candidate pool is just one more post-COVID hangover/aberration, and not a sign of local democracy unwinding. Like ‘em or not, we need leaders… not impervious administrators or complacent managers.
Think about it…