Incumbency über Alles

Determining which candidate to vote for in an election can be a difficult process. Being a responsible voter typically requires devoting time to assessing both the tangible and intangible attributes of the candidate, as well as, the issues of the campaigns.

The incumbent usually has a distinct advantage in any election since the person may be more of a “known quantity.” Incumbents usually run on their record unless, of course, its really, really bad. However, they still need be seen as not resting on their laurels. The expression refers to “someone relying on their past success to cover up their current shoddy efforts.” Most elected local government positions are for short terms. This gives the electorate a chance to “throw the bum out” is they are dissatisfied. As such, the election is often "fundamentally a referendum on the incumbent." When the candidate is popular, voter turnout is often low. Over the last 40 years, voter turnout has been steadily declining. When the incumbent is bad, turnout increases.

There is a tendency of some voters to always vote for the incumbent because they believe it unfair for someone in office to be "fired". They say that unless the official is mentally unfit, guilty of a serious crime, or dead “ya oughta stand by your man.” Then again, criminals, the mentally unfit and the dead have all been reelected to office in this country. Thus, as the saying goes “the electorate gets what it deserves.”

The Carbondale primary will occur on February 27th and the general election is March 17th.