Opinion: It’s Time for Amherst Voters to Do Some Homework

The Amherst League of Women Voters candidates’ forum is a laudable endeavor. The concept – getting candidates together to compare and contrast their positions – is great.  But the number of candidates on stage recently (10/5) – five during the hour devoted to councilors at large, and a dozen in the hour for District candidates – meant that answer times were limited to a minute or a minute and a half.  Unfortunately, the result illustrated the problems of informing the electorate so it can make well-reasoned choices on November 7.  

Try to think of a set of interlocking problems and positions that can be addressed in 3-5 90 second sound bites….  This is what candidates were expected to do.  Predictably, the time allotted was not enough.  Typically, the moderator asking, “What would you do to resolve problem X?” was followed by the candidates eloquently agreeing that they had heard from their constituents on the matter, that, yes, X is a problem, and they were dedicated to solving it for the greater good, at which point their time had expired, and it was on to the next candidate.  Few concrete solutions were offered.  Surprisingly, only one candidate suggested that they had more complete solutions on their website.  Every one of them should have had bullet point answers, and made it clear during every answer that they have a website, and on it they cover their positions in depth.   

Amherst is full of folks who have lots of good ideas about how to make town a better place.  Often over the past decade, many of these ideas were added to the town’s list of projects without budgetary adjustments to finance them.  This is the devil in the details.  Everyone likes pols who promise solutions to their problems.  Few like pols who say they need to raise taxes or cut popular programs.  It’s a perennial problem in politics, at every level.  Everything, from reparations to pickle ball courts and splash pads (all good things, I’d hasten to add) costs money, and takes precious time to thrash out in Town Council.  But what can Amherst really afford in dollars and time?  What could be farmed out to private organizations or individuals?  We need a reality check, adults in the room on both the stage and in the audience, who realize we can’t always get what we want.  We must figure out what we really need, and work to get it.  We need candidates to say what their top priorities are, and what they are willing to pare down, delay or eliminate in order to pay for the things that are fundamental needs, basics like road repair, responsible policing, an adequate fire/EMS department and serious rental housing inspections. 

      There were people on the LWV stage whom I consider friends and/or good candidates, because I have had extended interactions with them or studied their ideas.  I trust them and agree with all or most of their positions.  There were others who do not fall in this group for one reason or another.  But unless we voters are willing and able to dig deeper than a few sound bites, we will essentially be voting on flier and poster designs, and the superficial aspects of appearances and personalities, not policies.  Good governance demands more from both voters and candidates.  On November 7, we will find out if we are up to the task of running the town responsibly, or not.  It’s time for us all to do some homework…