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February 16, 2006
It's Too Late, Baby
UPDATE: "Oh yeah! Wow, my thinking on this case has been really uptight!"
The 2006 qualifying deadline for most Hamilton County elected positions was an hour ago (noon on 2/16).
They almost had me tricked! Today wasn't the deadline to turn in papers as a candidate in the county election. Today was merely the deadline for those wishing to qualify for a party primary. Granted, almost all of the candidates announced thus far have declared party affiliations, so they did need to turn in their paperwork by today.
As I have kept an eye on the developments (scattered throughout many posts on Chattanoogan.com and in a few TFP articles, and more or less collected here), I have noticed that quite a few incumbent officials will may not be challenged.
I had meant to say more about that, but the date has arrived already and so it's "too late" in that sense as well.
Oh, well. There is always the opportunity for a good write-in campaign.
The qualifying deadline for independent candidates in Hamilton County is April 6. There is plenty of time to make sure there are challengers. Don't get me wrong; I don't want challengers just for the sake of waking incumbents into interactivity with their constituents. No, wait. Do get me wrong. I do want that.
Having choices is a good thing, even if or when we are perfectly satisfied with the job someone is doing. Being satisfied is markedly different from being complacent. It must mean more to the candidate, too, whose fair win over a reasonable challenge validates the assumption that the people approve. If you are the only choice, I'm not sure that validation feels as complete.
There is a truckload of political news from across the state today. More to come.
Elections | By joe lance | 01:13 PM