Opinion: About Negative Campaigning

By Douglas Home

Pursuant to Tuesday’s election results and recent articles and blogs regarding the dislike of negative campaign signs around Moraga, I would just like to raise a concept for everyone to consider.

Posting signs that read “Defeat Mendonca” is really no different than posting ones that read “No on Prop. 50.” As a candidate for political office, one must realize that they are making themselves the political commodity. As an incumbent, one must be prepared to run on his or her record and be willing to accept the fact that some people will not agree with the decisions they’ve made in their position. Stating  “No to X ” or “Defeat X ” on a 18” x 24” yard sign is done to simply grab your attention and hopefully get you to look into the issue or candidate further – and then make up your own mind. Apparently, this worked.

For those who insist on deeming this a personal attack issue, that idea is of your own making – and I couldn’t disagree more. You might consider that without some kind of negative campaigning, incumbents would be essentially unbeatable. Only those few who show up to Town Council meeting would ever see firsthand what their shortcomings are. And, “Absolute power corrupts absolutely” … let’s not forget.
 
And so, congratulations are in order to Mr. Arth, Wykle and Metcalf – two of three who will be much-needed fresh faces on the Moraga Town Council. Govern well, gentlemen, in the interest of the majority of your citizenry, and with careful cost/benefit analyses. Pursue not personal agendas to the contrary. Moragans are paying attention.

Douglas Home
Moraga