Time for candidates to listen

Get ready to get sick and tired of political campaigns during the next seven and a half weeks. You’ll feel bombarded by ads on your TV and in your mailbox, and your social media will be full of political appeals. Candidates and their surrogates will be knocking on your door, accosting you in public with their literature and volunteer sign-up sheets and inviting you to event after event to raise campaign cash. It’s exhausting for everyone.

But it’s the price we pay for democracy, and, in Nevada, the extra attention funded by all that “outside money” comes with our status as a battleground “purple” state. And even in these mid-term elections, there are plenty of races with national importance, such as the U.S. Senate race between Dean Heller and Jacky Rosen, which is ranked as the Democrat’s best opportunity for a pick-up.

As we head into the final weeks, I offer some advice for the candidates with little hope they or their campaign consultants will heed it.

Despite what Rudy Giuliani and Kellyanne Conway say, truth is truth, and there are no alternative facts. Be honest about your background, your experience and your policy positions. If you don’t know the answer to something, admit it. Despite our daily presidential example, lying is unacceptable in a public servant. The truth matters.

Try to cut back on the incessant selfies at every community event documenting your wonderfulness. At least balance some of the fluff with substance. Talk about real issues in your community and what you hope to do about them. Let your constituents know what you’re concerned about and what your policy leanings are.

Treat your opponent with a modicum of respect. Please stop using alliterative insults that sound like something a bunch of snickering middle school boys conjured up on a Friday night. I wince every time I read or hear about Wacky Jacky. Or Shady Steve. And now, Lackey Laxalt. Calling your opponent silly names doesn’t advance political discourse. It makes you look juvenile and disrespectful of the electoral process. Just because your opponent descends to that level doesn’t mean you have to do it too. Make your arguments about the policy differences between you with a little more class. Please.

Having been a candidate myself through many election cycles, let me also offer suggestions for you, the voters, during the campaign season. Pay attention. Don’t let Nov. 6 arrive without doing your homework. Attend a candidate forum or a meet-and-greet at your neighbor’s house. Answer the door when the candidate comes calling and listen to their pitch. Ask thoughtful questions and enjoy a civil dialogue.

Remember that running for office is a grind, especially for introverts who find it draining to constantly meet new people. But a candidate’s job is to listen to their constituents. Engage them in conversation but don’t let them get away with vague non-answers on the big items—you deserve to know where they stand.

Don’t let the negative ads sway you. Refuse to watch them or at least mute the spooky music and doomsday narrator. Immediately recycle the nasty mail flyers or hand them right back to the canvasser at your doorstep. Or save them and give them back to the candidate in person and let them know how you feel about this type of campaigning.

When you receive your sample ballot, start filling it out. If there are races where you’re not sure who to vote for, phone a trusted friend. Visit the candidates’ websites, google their newspaper interviews, see who their supporters are. If you find both candidates truly unacceptable, you can always skip that race and use the “none of these candidates” option if it is available (statewide races only).

And need I say this? Vote.