Voters should perceive the explanations behind politicians altering events earlier than heading to the polls — so we requested them.
Some voters choose their consultant primarily based solely on political affiliation although a extra certified candidate could be working underneath an opposing social gathering. We might urge these voters to at the least get to know the positions of all of the candidates earlier than making a call — though it might probably lead them again to the candidate of their most well-liked social gathering anyhow.
Voters should take our responsibility, our duty, our energy in deciding who represents us in authorities significantly as a substitute of simply going into election day with none information of the candidates aside from the letter beside their names.
Pittsburg County voters will select representatives in a number of native workplaces — with all the races to be determined within the upcoming Republican primaries or a runoff.
With all of the candidates working as Republicans, voters nonetheless have to know the place the candidates stand on points.
The Information-Capital is finalizing plans for a candidate discussion board forward of the first and can proceed protection with Q&As, tales and extra.
Final weekend, we printed a narrative with the solutions from 4 Pittsburg County elected officers answering why they switched their political social gathering affiliations from Democrat to Republican.
Some on Fb questioned why it mattered— questioning if altering political social gathering affiliation adjustments the particular person and saying candidates ought to be “for the individuals” no matter their social gathering.
We agree that each one candidates ought to put the individuals over social gathering affiliation. However it’s vital to ask candidates why they switched events to see how or in the event that they modified positions on points that matter to us.
Pittsburg County voters additionally switched events in recent times.
Registered Democrats practically quadrupled the variety of Republican in Pittsburg County in 2010 — however registered Republicans overtook Democrats within the county for the primary time in 2020.
What was then a slim margin widened this 12 months with 12,228 registered Republican and 9,865 Democrats.
Some county officers that switched events echoed causes voters gave after we reported on the huge social gathering change.
District 1 County Commissioner Charlie Rogers stated he modified as a result of he wasn’t a supporter of Democratic President Joe Biden, plus “neither social gathering is what they was” and voters can vote by the straight social gathering system with out having to examine the field in every particular person race.
District 3 Commissioner Ross Selman, who faces three Republican challengers, stated he was prepared to vary after being a lifelong Democrat as a result of the social gathering “drifted away.”
“Primary, I’m towards abortion. Quantity 2, I’m towards gun management,” he advised us.
Pittsburg County Assessor Michelle Fields, stated she modified her political social gathering affiliation to Republican “as a result of I used to be not agreeing with the Democrats on the time.”
Pittsburg County Treasurer Jennifer Hackler stated she “determined to observe go well with with the vast majority of voters within the county” and he or she wished to have the ability to vote in races that may be determined in primaries.
So whereas altering events doesn’t all the time imply an individual has modified, it’s nonetheless vital for voters to grasp causes behind a candidate making the change.
And we are going to hold asking these questions to assist voters turn into extra knowledgeable about candidates.
McAlester Information-Capital Editorial Board