What to Look for in a Politician and Public Servant

The Townie is an opinion website. The views expressed in this piece belong solely to the author, do not represent those held by The Townie, and should not be interpreted as objective or reported fact.

There may be a few of you out there still undecided in the upcoming election, about who will represent you going forward. Having had the privilege of serving in elective office for 22 years in Newburyport, I’d like to share some thoughts about what we might look for in the people we want to represent us. 

I’ve learned that ideologies come and go; they aren’t the main determinant when I make my vote. In fact, I’ve always described my politics as “radical pragmatism.” A pragmatic solution is one that serves the community, is creative and collaborative, cost effective, empowering and clearly communicated. It doesn’t matter to me whether it comes from the left or right, or Ontario, if the idea it meets those pragmatic criteria. The radical part then asks, why we aren’t acting NOW to make the idea or solution work for us?

In the end, it comes down to values, not ideology.

During my first campaign for re-election to the School Committee, I was taught a seminal, valuable lesson by a voter in Ward 6. I had entered my first term on the Committee with elbows flying, bent on reform and improving the schools, and being confrontative and routinely obnoxious.  It finally dawned on me that I had probably made a lot of people angry and uncomfortable and would likely not be re-elected.

Not one to give up easily, I decided to go door to door, starting in Ward 6. As I recall, it was the Ward I had earned the fewest votes during my initial foray into elective politics. One of the first doors I knocked on was answered by a senior citizen. I introduced myself.

He told me “I know who you are.  I’ve watched you on Cable TV.  I don’t often agree with you.”  I offered to talk about those areas of disagreement, but he waved me off. 

“I watch you. You do your homework. You ask tough questions. And you don’t let the bastids get away with anything. You have my vote.” We may have disagreed on some issues, but this voter felt that my decisions were thought through, researched, and came from my honest belief about was what was best for the students and staff of the schools. He apparently felt that was enough.

I’ve thought a lot about what he said through years. It is the likely best lesson I learned about politicians and public servants, and how to practice politics as the “art of the possible.”

Make sure you elect officials who do their homework.  Electees, be prepared.  You owe it to your constituents. All of them, and not just the ones who voted for you. Listen to all sides of an issue, and work to find common ground that serves the community. It’s usually obvious when someone shows up to a public meeting prepared. You might want to vote for someone who demonstrates those traits. It’s also pretty evident when someone who is unprepared enters into the conversation. 

Ask tough and clear and thoughtful questions. I would often ask a question that I knew the answer to, making sure those answers became part of the public conversation about an issue. Frankly, it was also the fastest way to tell if someone was being honest or withholding information. More importantly, I learned to ask informed follow-up questions. Always illuminating.

I truly believe that if you give the people all the information they need to make a good decision, you get a significantly higher proportion of good decisions made in the community. 

Be impeccably, consistently honest. Speak truth, use facts. You wouldn’t want a boss who lies to you, or a teacher, clergy, or an elected official who resorts to lies and half-truths to make their point. As voters and members of the community, we deserve to be respected.  Leaders being disingenuous or withholding information to get their way do not ultimately serve the greater community. 

Be respectful to citizens and those who differ politically. There is too much incivility in public dialogue today. Leaders who lack respect for the people they serve or work with will not benefit the community. It is critical for public servants to understand what people are trying to say, what they are concerned about. You may end up disagreeing, but you will always learn something important. Being heard matters. Listening matters.

Show up.  You want a politician who shows up, especially for those hard decisions.  When I served on the School Committee there was a member whose attendance was … inconsistent. If there was a hard decision to be made, they were often absent.  We want to choose someone who will show up and do the job we elected them to do, and not just show up for the photo op. There is a lot of hard work to do. 

Serving in an elected office is a privilege, and not just a means to an end. This November, Newburyport has an interesting array of candidates from across the spectrum of values and concerns. Think about who will best serve the entire community, and who will understand that while service and politics may intertwine at times, they are not the same thing. Who has earned, and deserves your trust. Vote accordingly. 

I will always be grateful to the community of Newburyport for teaching me how to serve compassionately and effectively. Choose wisely, my friends. 

Bruce Menin
Former Vice Chair, Newburyport School Committee

Passionate about a local issue? We want to hear from you. Check out our submission guidelines.