Here we are again in election season -- our chance to watch the muck fly across the airwaves.
You probably think I'm talking about the presidential campaign. While these things could be true about that race, they're even more valid about local politics.An early ad for Wendy Davis in the state Senate District 10 race was positive and focused on hope for the future. Her current television ad spotlights Mark Shelton's political record, specifically his vote against funding for rape kit testing. This information has been fact-checked by multiple organizations and found to be correct in content. But even accurate things can be used in campaign mud-slinging.Mark Shelton's return volley included a number of inaccurate and misleading statements, including votes for/against a balanced budget (which didn't exist). His allegations were created by taking facts and giving them a little twist. This speaks more to his character than that of his opponent.As the commercials pile up, it starts to feel like a never-ending round of playground tattling. He did this! She did that! He did something else!A wise man once told me that when you point your finger, three fingers are pointing back at you.Let's focus on those three fingers. Candidates, share your record. Expand on your plans. Give us some inkling of what we would see from you in the future.Share with us how you plan to change things and tell us about the predicted impacts of your new programs.Don't waste precious air time blasting your opponent, especially if those allegations are not completely true.In other words, let's treat political campaigns as a job interview. I wouldn't apply for a job and then tell the interviewer about the faults of the other applicants. I would tell about my own strengths.If asked about my weaknesses, I would emphasize how I would work to overcome them. I wouldn't deny they exist or try to cover them up.I've discovered that people respect you more when you take ownership of your mistakes and try to make things right.That's what the candidates need to do. What can the average Tarrant County voter do?Take time to check one of the many websites that fact-check political claims. Many news sites and the Lone Star Project (www.lonestarproject.net) do this.Express your opinion. You can send emails and letters to campaign headquarters telling them that you don't appreciate their phony rhetoric. I've told those who stand too close to the door of polling places to back off or I won't vote for their candidate. It works.Tell the pollsters when they call that you don't like negative ads and won't support politicians who use them.Voice your opinion on social media -- Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc. Make sure you use a hashtag (#) with the candidate's name, so they'll be sure to see it.Vote for the person with the positive record, the one who has shown the most character and will best represent you and your priorities.Although it may be tempting to put "Mickey Mouse" or the name of your spouse as a write-in candidate, vote for someone who has a hope of being elected.Take a stand before we have a government run by those who continue to act like children.After all, these people want to represent us. Do we want to be represented by statesmen or by children from the playground?Lynn Parsons of North Richland Hills is a member of the 2012 Star-Telegram Community Columnist Panel. ldparsons60@gmail.comHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
