I’m tempted to copy and paste my previous post My Thoughts On Tomorrow’s School Board Election because I think I actually nailed it. Here are several points from that post that I believe explain what happened.
I’m not sure what to say about the candidates running for school board since they’ve become an afterthought in this election.
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And here’s the main thing Voices 4 Delaware accomplished through their politically clumsy campaign… they have managed to lump all their candidates together.
In essence, Voices 4 Delaware has become the candidate.
This was the main problem. The choice presented to the voters was vote “for” or “against” Voices 4 Delaware. Their candidates individual personalities and ideas couldn’t be heard over their PACs noise. It was all about Voices 4 Delaware, and one was left with the impression that the individual candidates didn’t matter. It felt like… if a Voices candidate dropped out at the last minute it wouldn’t be a big deal, just find another warm body to take their place. Sadly, Voices 4 Delaware did a huge disservice to the candidates they supported.
I’ve looked at the numbers for Red Clay, Christina and Appoquinimink, and all of these districts had higher than average turn-out this year.
Red Clay 2012 School Board Election – 2735
Red Clay 2011 School Board Election – 2559
176 more people voted
Red Clay was interesting. Out of the districts mentioned above it had the least difference in voter numbers. What it seemed to have was a shift in voter support. BTW, I’m just guessing that existing voters shifted, because the other option would be that people who normally vote in a school board election didn’t vote this year. I’m having trouble believing that. Guess that means I have more analysis ahead of me.
Christina 2012 School Board Election – 1426
Christina 2011 School Board Election – 719/650 (Two seats open)
Approximately 707 more people voted
Wow. That’s a big number. Ready for another one?
Appoquinimink 2012 School Board Election – 1294
Appoquinimink 2011 School Board Election – 758
536 more people voted
Christina and Appoquinimink’s totals are telling a story, and one that I warned Voices 4 Delaware about…
The last thing you wanted to do is to draw the attention of people who normally don’t vote in a school board election, but that is what has happened this year.
That’s me donning my political hat. Personally, I love that more people voted.
So, what lessons have we learned?
1. Whoever came up with Voices 4 Delaware’s strategy for these school board elections should probably look for another job. Losing every one of these races is, well… embarrassing.
2. The candidates count. They should be allowed to be the voice of the campaign. Grouping them as one slate under a PACs umbrella was political suicide, mainly because no two school districts face the same problems. What was really lost in these races was the candidate. Streamlining may be an effective business technique, but I’d remind people that all politics are local.
3. There’s a way to beat Citizens United. One of the most asked questions I heard during these school board elections was, “Who are the people behind the PAC?” Everyone I spoke with had serious concerns about an anonymous group funneling money into an election. And while no one could define Voices 4 Delaware agenda, everyone knew an agenda existed.
There are probably more lessons, but this post is long enough! In truth, I feel sorry for the candidates who lost; who weren’t allowed to shine on their own merits. I met both Red Clay candidates, and liked them both. In fact, the Red Clay candidate who was endorsed by Voices 4 Delaware stated that she had never even met with them. Wow, just wow. Voices 4 Delaware endorsed a candidate without ever meeting her? That’s a lot of arrogance right there. Did the candidate even matter to them? Basically, there simply wasn’t enough room in this election for the candidate’s message and the egos of those “calling the shots.”