From: Bob Pitman
Columbus
Do we have a right to expect integrity, empathy, and courage from our elected officials? Are honesty, strong morals, and the ability to understand and relate to those who are different important? Should we admire leaders willing to make difficult decisions regardless of the political consequences? How might we use these qualities to assess current candidates and incumbents in local and state offices?
What about Jim Lucas, who repeatedly makes insensitive statements and media postings about persons of color? Or Ryan Lauer and Greg Walker, who lack the integrity and courage to condemn their colleague’s intolerable behavior?
What about Sixth District Congressman Greg Pence, who insensitively displays and sells “Jim Crow-era” racist artifacts at his business and is oblivious to how much this insults his African American constituents; not to mention his electoral opponent? Should we also question his courage and arrogance for repeatedly refusing to participate in joint appearances with that opponent?
What about the Bartholomew County Council incumbents (Matt Miller, Evelyn Pence and William Lentz) who lacked the courage to support a local income tax increase targeted to combat the spiraling opioid epidemic? Were it not for the courage of four councilpersons of the same party, this measure would have failed. And without the resulting infusion of revenue, county budgets would be hard-pressed to surmount negative impacts due to the coronavirus.
One of these incumbents, Matt Miller, has filed for office while allegedly taking a homestead exemption at a residence in another county.
Individually, these failings may not be such a big deal. But taken together, they are evidence of a political party whose dominance apparently allows them to think they are insulated from public accountability.
It is time for this year’s election to prove otherwise!
For those of you who think voting consists only of pulling one lever, please take the time to consider the merits of all the candidates on the ballot.
Editor’s note: This letter is paid political content
