B+, 40,000,000 And All Great Swimmers

Seems that there is something missing from this years political races here in town.

Candidates.

There are sixteen positions available in town, and as of the other day only 13 sets of nomination papers had been taken out. That means only one candidate for only 13 of the 16 positions.

Thirteen non races.

Assistant Town Clerk, Heather Hall said, "... I don't think people want to get involved. I think it's the political climate overall in the U.S.; it's very dysfunctional, it's just not Sturbridge."

She could be right. Over the past few weeks Senator Evan Bayh, and Congressman Patrick Kennedy announced they will not run again. The vice presidents own son announced that he will not run for Delaware's open senate seat.

The technology of this day and age has given us so much, and at the same time it has put us all on notice, and we are naked in the eyes of others if we decide to step into the public arena.

It never used to be that way. Certain things were not for public consumption, and that was accepted, now, everything is on the table.

Everything.

And, that is too high a price to pay for someone running for senator, never mind for a person running for constable, auditor, or selectman.

I always thought that there would be a time to give my time, and energy, to the place I call home by running for office, but after watching the political scene here in Sturbridge over the past 10 years, I just don't know.

Nothing worth hiding, all the embarrassing stuff is known by most, but it's the whole idea that when you decide to run for local office one must share everything. From our fourth grade geography grades to our current sperm count and grade of motility *. Nothing is off limits.

Well, it should be, and that just be part of the problem here in town, and everywhere else for that matter. It has become an expected requirement of a candidacy: to invite the skeletons in our closet out for tea, and to succumb to the myriad of pointless, and gossip seeking questions.

That's enough to make folks think twice about running.

If there comes a day when I do decide that I have an incredible need to run for office, then I will do so under my terms:

• Everything I have to say about me, and my position is here in this handout. Everything else is public record. Google me, and if you find anything intriguing, let me know. You obviously spelt my name wrong.
• Debates? No. Read the handout.
• You feel the same as I do, then vote for me. You don't feel the same way, then don't.

Now, if folks could just do it this way we might have just a few more candidates, but sometimes we seem to care more about the package than what the package actually holds.