Party Labels

In the best of all possible democratic worlds, party labels for local public office shouldn’t be part of the election equation. It makes sense that ministerial jobs that lend themselves to non-ideological competence should be nonpartisan contests.

But we’re obviously not in the best of all possible democratic worlds. Otherwise, the Donald Trumps and Rick Scotts wouldn’t get elected. Diligence is still due from the electorate. And when it comes to non-presidential years, the turnout can be embarrassingly low, and outcomes can be determined by activists and extremists.

Hillsborough County commissioners have voted to include constitutional offices–clerk, sheriff, property appraiser, tax collector and supervisor of elections–on a referendum ballot that would remove party labels from candidates. All five would be nonpartisan races. The rationale: How relevant is a “D” or “R” in evaluating candidates for sheriff or clerk of county court?

The only issue with a change to such county nonpartisanship, is that it ups the ante on voter responsibility. Will voters do their homework and make their call based on candidate experience and pertinent credentials? If not, what else would be a relevant difference-maker other than political affiliation as an indicator of partisan values?

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