don's report archive

Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

Before You Vote -- Insist on Specifics
Saturday June 22, 2002

As a wellness promoter running for mayor of Tampa, I want voters to know my positions. I want voters to know that while my broad campaign theme is "a well city that is fit, fun, free and functional," I have a lot of other ideas, too. For example, I would promote a city where personal responsibility is advocated, rewarded and idealized, where courtesy and civility are valued and practiced, where continuing education is available to all, where there would be ample incentives for involvement in local government and where wellness qualities would be integrated into city life and public policy.

Yet, voters need to know more about a candidate than that. What about a candidate's ideas for growth management, transportation, quality of life, water, health care and aging services, city/county government cooperation and fiscal responsibility/accountability? These are critical issues in a city or county election. Is there an efficient way for voters to learn where the candidates stand on these vital matters?

In Tampa there is. A non-partisan group called the Compass Project exists to help voters identify the best possible leaders. The mission of the Compass Project is to "connect voters with principled, knowledgeable candidates." Specifically, they seek "Leaders who will establish a vision for the future and set the strategy for getting there." Excellent. The Compass Project and other groups will sponsor candidate forums and ask each candidate to address the following seven key areas:

Growth Management

High-quality, managed growth that adds value to our existing community
Emphasis on urban revitalization as well as suburban growth
A favorable regulatory environment for businesses, with tax incentives for clean industries offering good incomes for our residents

Transportation

Dedicated revenues sufficient to address existing needs and future growth
A variety of transportation solutions including alternatives to single-vehicle usage

Quality of Life

Public support for local cultural and arts institutions that improve the quality of life of residents and attract visitors who fuel our economy
Public/private partnerships for the ongoing operations of cultural facilities

Water

A regional approach to addressing water shortages
New water sources that are environmentally sustainable
An expansion of reclaimed water systems and reasonable water conservation measures

Health Care and Aging Services

Commitment to prevention and early intervention health care services for low-income residents
A recognition of the needs of the county's most vulnerable citizens
City/County Government Cooperation
Collaboration between city and county departments, reducing duplication and overlapping bureaucracies

Fiscal Responsibility/Accountability

Proper up-front investments in county infrastructure and services to avoid paying big money to address problems once they are out of control
A recognition that tax dollars are a limited resource and county needs must be balanced with citizens ability to pay

All this is well and good but I think there might be a small problem. The statements by the good folks at the Compass Project are too general. Who would NOT favor all these things? Would any of the mayoral candidates come out AGAINST high-quality, managed growth that adds value to the existing community? Would some of the candidates oppose city/county cooperation and volunteer that they favor duplication and overlapping bureaucracies? Of course not! Everyone will have to say he or she supports the wise and sensible general statements under each of these seven categories. Just for the record, I certainly do!

I suggest the Compass Project leaders identify HOW they foresee principled, knowledgeable candidates doing these sensible things, if elected! They could offer alternative and quite specific quantifiable action possibilities in each category, and see who favors which kind of policy and who does not. For instance, what are alternative ways that the city/county can realize a "regional approach to addressing water shortages?" What are alternative ways to meet the "prevention and early intervention health care service" needs of low-income (and other) residents -- and how would the candidates pay for these initiatives?

Maybe the voters should have personality profiles for the candidates. How about intelligence tests? Can we be sure there were no horse thieves in a candidate's family history?

Seriously though, all voters should welcome the creativity and initiative of the Compass Project -- let's do what we can promote citizen initiatives to vote wisely. Let's do our best to pin down these politicians (including me!) so we know who to vote for -- and who to avoid.

In the meantime, in case you live in Tampa, take the sensible course of action and vote for the guy who wants a well city that is fit, fun, free and functional. How often do you get a candidate with THAT kind of platform! Anyone who would seek office under a wellness banner is a good bet to favor the best policies for effective growth management, transportation, quality of life, water, health care and aging services, city/county government cooperation and fiscal responsibility/accountability!

Be well and look on the bright side of life when you go into YOUR voting booth.

(Ed. Note: Views expressed in this and other columns are those of the author and not necessarily those of the SeekWellness Editorial Board.)

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