Opinion: We can disagree without being disagreeable
– The late great Mayor Steve Martin was fond of saying that we can disagree without being disagreeable. He was a man of genuine humility and uncompromising grace. He inspired us to discuss our differences of opinion while embracing all of the things that we have in common.
With the presidential election this fall, it is all too easy for the negativity of national partisan politics to spill into our local races. Recently, one of our colleagues on the school board had a campaign sign vandalized by an individual or individuals who have committed other similar acts of vandalism around town. Now it doesn’t matter whether our colleague was targeted as a political statement or as part of a larger crime spree. She understandably took it as personal attack. Fortunately, Paso Robles responded as we do, she has received a great deal of support and her sign was repaired.
Nathan Williams.
This unacceptable defacing of a campaign sign brought to mind other abhorrent forms of negative campaigning that we hope we can all rise above. In the special election last year a candidate was bullied and harassed by individuals claiming to support her opponent. In the last couple of days, baseless accusations about members of the school board were posted on social media by another member of the school board who is also running for reelection. Nationally, we see intentionally divisive issues show up on local city council or school board agendas to fuel an ever-widening divide and we are asking everyone to embrace the wisdom of Mayor Martin.
There is too much important work to do serving our community to engage in negative political behavior or allow ourselves to be dragged into intentionally divisive political arguments that do not benefit the community. There is plenty of campaign volunteer work to be done supporting candidates who want to serve for the right reasons.
Jim Cogan.
Neither of us supports candidates who engage in negative campaigning. It can be a challenge when national politics is full of candidates who hurl insults at each other, make baseless accusations, support divisive issues, and have supporters who revel in harassing anyone they don’t like. They do it, because unfortunately, it works. So let’s make sure it doesn’t work in Paso Robles.
Let’s only support candidates who have a track record of volunteerism, who have demonstrated their dedication to our community with their time and resources long before their names were ever on a ballot. Let’s state clearly with our votes this fall that negative campaigning does not work here. This is Paso Robles and we will not be divided, because we can disagree without being disagreeable.
Submitted by:
Nathan Williams, Firefighter with SLO FD, community volunteer, and President of the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees.
Jim Cogan, local business owner, community volunteer, and Paso Robles Joint Unified School District Trustee.
