To the Editor,
Vanderbilt political science researchers Cindy Kam and Elizabeth Zechmeister have shown that name recognition increases the number of votes in low information races.
School district trustee political races have traditionally low information and low voter turn-out. Unfortunately, name recognition is not the best criterion to use in casting your votes.
In the previous election, I cast my votes based on observed performance.
I noted the trustee who took an interest in attending PAC meetings during a year when the facilities’ plan was being pushed.
At the board meetings, I also noted which trustees were confrontational to queries from concerned parents, evasive and/or dismissive of concerns.
I also noted the trustees who did not fully research their facts, used false claims as pivotal arguments, and publicly attacked parents in the media rather than focus on the issues at hand.
I’d hate to see any trustee voted in based solely on the number of yard signs they have and I urge everyone to research and discuss current and past performances of former trustees and new candidates.
We have some good candidates and some low performers. Choose wisely – our children’s education counts and our taxes are paying for trustees’ salaries and the decisions that they make.
M. Holubeshen
Nanaimo