By Lisa Lucas Gardner, J.D. On June 3 at 3:23 PM
Ive been wondering over the past month about something that has bothered me. I dont understand how a "perfect" candidate lost the election. The perfect candidate had a college education (B.A.), he is a lifetime member of our rescue squad, he is a lifetime resident of our town, he is a retired law enforcement captain (not an easy thing to accomplish), he is presently a security director for a major institution, he is a male, tall, dark (very), and handsome ;).
This candidate came forward green under the gills in politics. I thought he was a breath of fresh air because he would have brought a sense of diversity to out town council, something that we must strive from here on out if we are to be the "progressive small town" that we claim to be. He wanted to be the "eyes, ears, & voice" of our community. Could that have been why he lost? That he wanted to do what we, the people, expect out town leaders to do? Or was it because of his lack of experience in local government? Although he has spent his whole life working in and for a local government agency so he knows all to well how small town politics work. As I search my mind for the reason why the perfect candidate lost I can only hope that the most obvious reason isnt really the true reason. You see, the perfect candidate is a Black man. In this progressive small town I hope that my suspicions arent real. You be the judge and search the community's conscious. I know that my conscious is clear and I will be judged fairly someday. Who says that there isnt a need for Affirmative Action anymore?