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Westside Story – Voter Test

August 1, 2018 By Joe Boyle

Submitted by Joe Boyle.

For a number reasons, I am hesitant to advise you on who to vote for in any of our upcoming political races, including the race for Pierce County Prosecutor. I am not reluctant to share several voting tips with you to help make your voting process more meaningful.

The question we should ask ourselves is, are we smart voters or dumb voters? As an example let’s use the current political race for the office of Pierce County Prosecutor between Mark Lindquist, incumbent and Mary Robnett, challenger.

VOTER QUIZ:

  1. If based on rock-solid research we make an intelligent choice between Mary Robnett and Mark Lindquist for prosecutor because we think one or the other is the better candidate, we are smart voters.
  2. If we cast our vote based only on name recognition, we are dumb voters.
  3. If we cast our vote based on which candidate is first to put up the most political signs trashing our public roadways, we are dumb voters.
  4. If we cast our vote based on mud-slinging political mailers which in one case included an unflattering distorted looking photo of Mary Robnett along with a “No Public Restrooms” sign prominently displayed in the background, we are dumb voters. Most observers would think Mary Robnett is an attractive woman, but you wouldn’t know that by looking at the photo published by her political opposition.
  5. If we cast our vote based on the public claim made by Lindquist supporters that all members of Lakewood City Council endorsed Mark Lindquist, we are dumb voters. Lakewood City mayor, Don Anderson, published a follow-up article in response to the false claim stating the headline was not accurate. Mayor Anderson indicated he had not endorsed either candidate.
  6. If we vote for Lindquist because he is endorsed by the fire department, which is as viable as being supported by the sewer department, or maybe a local Cub Scout den, we are dumb voters.
  7. If we cast our vote for Lindquist only because he is the incumbent without intelligently determining which candidate would best serve the public, we are dumb voters.
  8. If we reach out and communicate with individual members of law enforcement, attorneys, judges and other individuals who have intense direct daily contact with the prosecuting attorney’s office to determine who is the best candidate for prosecutor, we are smart voters
  9. If we conduct research to determine who the largest police agencies in Pierce County such as the Tacoma Police Department and the Pierce County Sheriffs Department endorse for the prosecutor, we are smart voters.
  10. If we read the voters pamphlet using material provided by each candidate to eliminate candidates from further consideration based on the candidates’ apparent self described flaws we are smart voters.
  11. If we vote based on believing everything we read in the voter’s pamphlet and the newspaper we are dumb voters.
  12. If we attend candidate forums to hear each candidate speak, weigh the words spoken for accuracy, and check the validity of each statement with further research, we are smart voters.
  13. If we perform a Google search for each candidate to benefit from the candidates good and bad press, we are smart voters.

Mark Lindquist Press.

Mary Robnett Press.

Follow these common sense voting tips and you can be a smart voter. Smart voters can make our city, country, and world a better place.

In closing, it is my hope our political process will always put voters in a strong position to decide which candidate most deserves our vote. A quality political process operating at a high functional level should not place voters in a position of having to decide which candidate is the lesser of two evils as many feel was the case in our last presidential election.

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Related

About Joe Boyle

Joe’s life is divided into 3 chapters. Chapter I: 25+ years in business including Estate Planning with New York Life, Revenue Officer with the U.S. Treasury Department, Sales Representative and gas main Extension King with Washington Natural Gas Company, Real Estate Broker, investor, developer, and property manager. Chapter II: 25 years in public service as a Pierce County Deputy Sheriff between the ages of 45 and 70. Chapter III: Began with an April Fool’s Day 2013 retirement and involves The Arts including Writing, Comedy, and the Blues. Currently Joe is a creator on Westside Story, The Benny's & Joey’s Quiz with Publisher Ben Sclair and Double Take with author / columnist Susanne Bacon. Joe has performed as an actor locally and done stand-up comedy in Seattle, Tacoma, New Jersey, and Las Vegas.

Comments

  1. Mary W. Hammond says

    August 2, 2018 at 9:09 am

    Excellent advice!

  2. David B. Moylan says

    August 2, 2018 at 9:23 am

    Hi Joe,

    Thanks for the interesting read.

    Do you know who else I find it entertaining to listen to? MSNBC’s Rachael Maddow.

    Not unlike your engagingly snarky (if not particularly veiled attempt at presenting a nonpartisan opinion) piece, she too is very proficient at spending hours on end proselytizing about unabashedly biased supposition in an attempt to sway public opinion without ever having to actually present such annoying details as empirical evidence or fact.

    But thank you for helping define the criteria by which voters can be “smart” and not “dumb” when making their mark on the ballot to match your inferred obvious choice. I’m sure we are all in debt to you for bringing us out of ignorance.

    I have personally met both candidates, by the way, and I am basing my vote based on the passion the candidate demonstrated to serving the community, the proven (read: empirical evidence) track record resulting from innovative and effective solutions for ensuring public safety and my gut sense that the candidate I have chosen to vote for in the Primary election on August 7th has that inescapable character trait know as “integrity”.

    That is my personal decision and the basis upon which it was formed. I invite my fellow voters to do their due diligence in making their own decisions.

    Whatever tools and techniques you use, my fellow voters, please do NOT allow yourself the excuse not to vote. It is a hard-earned and precious right of citizenship, and a responsibility that we all need to take to heart.

    Make a plan. Work the plan. Vote.

    Especially this year with pre-paid return postage envelopes it is that simple.

    • Joseph Boyle says

      August 2, 2018 at 10:15 am

      Thank you for your thought provoking comments.

      Joseph Boyle

  3. Shirlee Dashow says

    August 3, 2018 at 9:57 am

    Glad your back! Good article.

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