In addition to the President and the Vice President, Georgians will elect a United States Senator, thirteen United States Representatives, fifty-six Georgia Senators, one hundred and eighty Georgia Representatives, two Georgia Public Service Commissioners, forty-one Georgia District Attorneys, two Georgia Supreme Court Justices, three Court of Appeals Judges, and one hundred and thirty nine Superior Court Judges on November 4, 2008. In total, this is three hundred and thirty eight candidates vying for public service in Georgia.
Qualifying for public office is no small thing. The Secretary of State’s publication outlining the “Qualifications and Disqualifications for Holding State or County Elective Office in Georgia” is two hundred and seventy two pages long. Candidates must complete a whole array of forms and affidavits along with paying the necessary qualifying fee. (The qualifying fee is three percent of the salary of the office sought and ranges from $4,956.00 for United States Senate and Representative to $400.00 for Georgia Senator and Representative.) Yet, the legalities of qualifying for political office are only the beginning for candidates. There is the campaigning, fundraising, get-out-the-vote drives, and so much more.
Yet, a viable democracy really depends on two essential ingredients - candidates and voters. One without the other diminishes the process itself. If no one qualifies, then there really is no choice involved. (It is why reports in some countries of ninety-nine percent voter turnout mean little given that voters are only given one choice.) If people qualify for office, but no one votes, it is the same problem in reverse. Both make the system work.
In Georgia, any citizen who meets the qualifications for office can sign up and be a candidate - regardless of the preferences, wishes, or desires of anyone else. It is a beautiful thing.
Contrary to popular belief, ordinary people run for office. Many times they have held public office before. Sometimes, they have not. Most often, they really want to make a difference.
Regardless of their reason, candidates for public office should be congratulated. They have distinguished themselves as American patriots willing to endure some measure of sacrifice in order to assure that Georgians have a choice. Candidates offer the best opportunity for voters to express their beliefs and values.
As results often confirm, there are no predestined winners or losers in American politics - whether at the national, state, or local level. Just this year, no one seriously thought that Senator John McCain had a chance, and now he is the presumptive Republican nominee. More significantly, perceived barriers of age, race, and gender have been obliterated by the candidacies of Senator McCain, Senator Barack Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton.
Unfortunately, the vitriolic nature of modern American politics combined with the availability of instant communication via the internet and cable news has chilled many would-be candidates from stepping up to the plate. While the number of people participating as voters in process has increased, the number of folks willing to sign up as candidates has declined. A large part of this reticence stems from the personal nature of the attacks often levied against candidates.
Political operatives are quick to attack the messenger when they have little ground to attack the message. Politicians do not help the situation when they resort to petty name calling as opposed to genuine policy debates.
Yet, while the internet and cable news have increased the speed and efficiency of personal attacks, voters have become increasingly adept at sizing up candidates and zeroing in on the issues and qualities that are important. Georgians talking to Georgians continues to be the best way for voters to synthesize the data that they receive and to make good choices.
Occasionally, the latest flavor of the month may win. But over time, there is a reason that America’s system has worked so well. William F. Buckley once said: “I'd rather entrust the government of the United States to the first 400 people listed in the Boston telephone directory than to the faculty of Harvard University.” The key, however, is that folks in the telephone directory have to sign up to run for office. If you see a candidate, say “thank you.”