What a Candidate says when they say nothing...

The old adage is... actions speak louder than words!  We have been told this all our lives by parents and teachers, soon we found ourselves saying the same thing to our children.  When I thought of this line the other day I thought it would be fun to do a blog post in light of the election process seeing that I am a Candidate for public office. Now as a disclaimer, this is not about any particular candidate, its just random thoughts, hope you enjoy and let me know what you think or what you look at in a Candidate.
We all know that Politicians are prone to talk...a lot.  To be fair, they have to talk...a lot, in order to get the votes that they need.  But sometimes what they say out loud and what they really are inside is two totally different things.  To be elected one needs to personify what the electorate is looking for, therefore sometimes the reality of what a Candidate is inside is hidden or masked over.  How then does a Voter know, or what can a Voter look for as evidence of the true person behind the campaign smile?  Could it be that we need to listen to the Candidate when they are not saying anything?  If so, how can one do this and what can we learn?  Here are some random thoughts of mine, which I sincerely hope Voters are thinking about me.

1.  What experience does this Candidate have for the office they are running for?   
The particulars of this will vary by Voter.  Has the Candidate been passionate about this office or issue prior to the top seat being vacated?  What variable does the Candidate bring to the table?  Maybe we should look at the past to determine the present.

2. Who is funding the Campaign?
Do you know that many Voters don't realize that all campaign contributions are public record and are available on the counter in the elections office?  Many people don't realize that this information can be emailed to them upon request.   What groups of people are connected to this particular candidate?  Are they the people that you feel best define your values and will be a good representative for you?

3. How is campaign funds being spent?
Again, this information is available in the Candidate financial reports that are filed regularly with the Elections office.  Is the Candidate being fiscally responsible with their funds or are they overspending on comparable campaign items?  Does this mean the Candidate will be irresponsible with taxpayer dollars?  Do they buy unneeded items?  Again this will be determined by each Voter.  


4. How does their campaign signs look?
Are they signs neat and orderly?  Were they installed straight and at a good angle for viewing?  Do they convey a message to the voter?  Sometimes Candidates take a rap for their signs, I have been unfairly judged for placing signs where I do not have permission.  This has been found to be untrue, I will admit that I have had some signs placed in the right of ways by zealous campaign workers, but this is true of every Candidate, and we have promptly removed all we have been made aware of.  All signs should be placed where the owner has given permission.   


5. What does the campaign literature say?
Is it informational?  It is easy to read and understand?  Does it talk about the position, experience and goals for the office sought?    


6. What was the character of the Candidate prior to becoming a Candidate?
Ask around, find multiple people in various settings who have interacted with that Candidate prior to them becoming a Candidate.  What was their personality?  Were they personable and friendly?  Are they kind, sincere and honest?  Did they interact with all people or only a select few of their social circle?  What kind of a job ethics do they acquire?  Are they people of faith (if that matters to you as a voter) or have they listed a church for a good showing since they became a Candidate?  


7. How do they run their campaign?
Is the campaign ran with passion for the position or is it all negative towards a fellow Candidate?  So many times Voters complain about negative campaigns and then allow the negative comments to decide who to vote for without checking out any of the 'facts' the other candidate is mentioning.  If a Candidate does not focus on the office but only on the other Candidates while campaigning, will that negativity be brought into a public office once the campaign is over or is that Candidate simply doing the Voters a favor by bringing the opponents flaws to light?   

All these questions listed, which is not exhaustive by any means, are ways that you can find out about the Candidates running without hearing a word.  Each of us should be looking and researching for each Candidate.  What do we expect out of the Candidate for each office sought and are they able to fulfill that expectation?  
On the side of Candidates, of which I am one, campaigning is extremely tiring and taxing.  Anyone who comes forward to run for office deserves respect and a little tolerance now and then.  We are all humans and sometimes Voters forget that. However, we need to be real and not phony, the public has an understandable dislike for government due to some bad politicians.   It is time to be authentic, it is time for all voters to vote for people who have proven themselves to be such.  
What does your Candidate say when they don't speak a word?????