As Clark County — and counties throughout the nation — prepare for Election Day, candidates are not the only things on the ballot. Americans will once again be voting on Nov. 7 to support our form of democracy. In assessing the sturdiness of that democracy, it is instructive to look at this year’s ballot in Clark County.
Odd-year elections typically are limited to positions such as city councilor, school board member, port commissioner, fire district commissioner and cemetery commissioner. They are not the kinds of races that attract big campaign contributions or network TV coverage. Nor do they entice a large percentage of voters to fill out and turn in a ballot.
Of equal concern, however, is that the races often do not attract many candidates. This fall’s ballot in Clark County includes 68 races in the three most prominent categories: City council, school board and port commission. Of those, 43 are uncontested, with only one candidate in each having filed for the race in May.
Democracy works best when multiple candidates seek a position, vying for voters in the marketplace of ideas. This is particularly true when an incumbent is seeking reelection and should be held accountable for their performance.
It is understandable that few people are willing to challenge an incumbent. Office-holders have inherent advantages in name recognition, experience and fundraising ability. In addition, an incumbent likely has valuable skills that made them a victorious candidate in the first place.
Convincing voters that an elected official should be replaced can be difficult, particularly for low-profile positions that do not receive constant scrutiny. According to Ballotpedia.com, incumbents across all levels of government in Washington won 97 percent of their reelection bids in 2022.
But beyond the obvious barriers, there are additional reasons qualified would-be candidates don’t run for office. As Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey, the area’s top election official, said: “The tribalism of our population has diminished people’s interest in running for office.”
Studies have indicated that the discord and cynicism surrounding modern politics is particularly jarring for millennials. As political science professor Shauna Shames has written for The Washington Post: “Not only are capable young people repelled by what they see of politics, they are extremely skeptical about politics as a way of effecting positive change. …Most of the people I surveyed did not agree with the statement, ‘The problems I most care about can be solved through politics.’ ”
A constant drumbeat of claims that government creates more problems than it solves adds to the mistrust. Shames adds: “Changing this situation will thus involve … sharing positive stories of the change politics can bring about. Doing this could also close the demographic gaps in political ambition and thereby bring new voices into politics.”
New voices are essential to a vibrant democracy. They also are essential to a community’s self-governance and to developing leaders who might eventually seek higher office. The political career of Marie Gluesenkamp Perez was launched in 2016 with a failed campaign for Skamania County commissioner. Now she is a congresswoman.
Not everybody who runs for local office has broader ambitions. Not everybody who campaigns will eventually win an election. But our community is grateful for those who embrace the risk that comes with placing their name on the ballot. They form the foundation of our representative democracy.
