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Show The candidates responsibilij By Del Hollingshead In last week's editorial it was suggested that candidates for public office, the elector -ate, and the media could all do more to make preelection campaigns more meaningful meaning-ful and worthwhile events. Of the three, it stands to reason the role played by the candidate is the most crucial; since it is he who, if elected, will ultim ately determ ine the course govern -ment will take. Ideally a candidate would be an individual whose sole reason for wanting to hold office is to render public service. An individual free from all personal or self-serving ambition, as well as the influence in-fluence of all special interests. Since in all probability such a person exists only in the most fanciful dreams of the philosopher; philo-sopher; perhaps it is rather unrealistic to expect mere mortals to attain such purity of intent. It is, nevertheless, quite realistic to expect unquestioned honesty and complete integrity of those who seek public office. These two qualities along with at least a workable knowledge of the role and function func-tion of city and county government ought to be demanded of all who wish to serve. A candidate, particularly one who runs for a councilman or commissioner seat, should also be a dynamic, well informed individual, capable of grasping the com -plexities and scope of the many issues confronting con-fronting local, state and national government. govern-ment. And he should be sufficiently articulate articu-late to be able to communicate his feelings feel-ings and pionts of view to the electorate. A candidate should also realize that once elected it is neither his role nor his responsibility to attempt to please all of the people all of the time. To try to do so will only render him ineffective as a public servent, and impede the legislative process. While there is a need for compromise and diplomacy if matters of government are to be dealt with efficiently, there is as great a need for elected officials who understand and act in their role as advocates ad-vocates of the people. Too often, lam afraid, our elected officials either neglect or give only token consideration to the real needs of the people, while they assume duties and responsibilities that could best be left to others. No doubt some will argue a I Beaver County are somehow Bs'i the problems confronting the tea nation, and dismiss this article as more than an exercise in wtshf ing. However, I would suggT are a number of issues current .'V county government that must be ! t on by capable and determined offl" " they are to be resolved. c" ' Among others, we need cantfe ? public officials who will address!' ' selves to such issues as the w ' a comprehensive and workable zon subdivision ordinance for the count " dividuals who will take a stand on the i participation of the county in the FiVec- 1 Organization, and other state andfet. ' funded programs. 1 We need candidates who are pre and able to stand up to state and if bureaucracies, and work to mining ' impact of their activities on the ttJ and quality of life in Beaver County, We need individuals who will ad , themselves to unpopular and contrW- issues. Spiralingpropertytaxes.ands, ' problems such as the persistent afc i alcohol and drugs, and the abnormal; incident of suicides occuring in y years, are but a few of the Issues i should be aired during the course campaign. . Candidates and elected officials ; further define the role of county gov; ment in the funding and participate cultural and recreational programs, : we need candidates who are not t to act as watchdogs of the public tr who will not hesitate during the camf; i and after their election to point out a! or call other departments of governme-account governme-account for their activities. These are but a few of many ls: confronting the citizens of this co. And as citizens we have every rlf expect public servants to possess thene sary competence and character to deal ; them in an effective and forth-right mac-It mac-It is up to the candidates to demons: that they . have what it takes. I c that they will make a determined!! ' to" do so during the course of the p, . ent campaign. |