By Dr. Angela Ruark, Guest Contributor

This year, I have felt the burden more than ever of making truly informed decisions at the ballot box. While I have plenty of information for the major races, where I have had the greatest challenge is right in the small town where my husband and I live. It’s a small community and we love it.  But because we commute to work and do many of our activities in the city (which is in a different county), we are not as familiar with who’s who or who stands for what in our local elections. I must admit I have taken it for granted that residing in a small town was a “buffer.” 

This election season and the events of this past year have changed my mind. I will no longer assume that locally elected folks automatically have our best interests at heart. I can’t! Too much is at stake and can, as we have seen during 2020, change in an instant. So this year, I am making a pointed effort to become informed before I vote. It has not been easy to do! Many of the candidates for our local races do not have a website or an active social media account. I have taken to phone calling, messaging, and asking others who know the individuals running for office where each of the candidates stand on issues and what their values are. Because for me, that is the deal maker or the deal breaker.

I’m voting values. Biblical values. That’s what I’m looking for in someone who wants to hold an elected office where I live. (Notice I did not say leaders because these folks will work for me and the others who elected them.) I’m one of their bosses. And just like any competent supervisor, I’m going to have to interview them and get to know them a bit before I hire them. But even then, I won’t be done. I’ll be monitoring their progress, offering input, and providing constructive criticism and positive feedback where applicable. 

What if we took this approach in every election at every level? Don’t you think someone with a couple thousand “bosses” (or more) would know they are going to be held accountable and act accordingly? I find this particularly pertinent for local school board elections. School boards directly impact our children, which means they could have influence over future generations and the values they will embrace. 

What a tremendous responsibility that we, as the “bosses” of elected officials, have. So today, I am going to do my duty and interview a candidate.

I’ll make my decision known at the ballot box.

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