Terry Flanagan: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

• Author’s note: My wife, Dorothy, is an alderman for the city of Geneva, and I am a registered Democrat. So I will not be voting for either Mr. Burns or Mr. Lauzen in the primary.

The recent resources by Kevin Burns demonstrates the darker side of politics and is a clear indication that pledges to stick to the issues are no longer being honored, if indeed they ever were.

If wishes to preserve whatever shred of dignity and credibility his campaign is clinging to, he needs to fire John Zahm and denounce the tactics used by Mr. Zahm. Kevin Burns should also examine his own campaign staff and rid himself of any unsavory political operatives he may have lurking within the ranks. If either of these campaigns is evidence of the type of management these candidates will bring to Kane County, heaven help us all.

The e-mails released by Mr. Zahm demonstrate really nothing more than locker room bravado and trash talk that is part of every sport, including politics. It is embarrassing and juvenile, but not evidence of any criminal intent. Certainly the use of city e-mail or cell phones for campaign purposes violates city code. However, a Board of Elections representative raised doubts to the Daily Herald staff that something like this could even be quantified or prosecuted.

One could reasonably argue that the processing of a FOIA request is a far greater taxpayer expense and more sinister if done merely to discredit a political opponent. So while John Zahm is patting himself on the back for uncovering this nefarious plot, he may have actually cost the Geneva taxpayers more money and made his employer’s campaign look petty and ridiculous in the process.

However, the situation does raise a question that city of Geneva Ethics Commission should look into as a matter of due diligence and report its findings along with any recommendations for possible further action. Mr. Burns should encourage such an investigation.

Even though this circumstance is unlikely to be a criminal matter, it does show a lapse of judgment. Members of the City Council and the mayor are well aware that city e-mail is subject to FOIA requests. I doubt that Kevin Burns would knowingly risk sending this kind of e-mail using a city account. However, the failure to uncover this so-called “snafu” earlier or to make adequate preparation to avoid such problems is troubling in itself. At the very least, it demonstrates a failure to pay attention to detail.

But the most troubling aspect of this matter is the level to which this campaign has devolved. At the beginning of the campaign both candidates pledged to stick to the issues and avoid personal attacks. So far, the campaign has been a contrast in styles and rhetoric with a perennial battle between the usual political operatives taking place right here on the Patch.

Politics has earned a bad reputation for just this sort of behavior. People wonder how good, smart, civic-minded persons are turned to the dark side by politics. This is how it starts. If one is willing to compromise personal integrity and honor to get elected, it only gets easier after that. And there are more opportunities to continue down that slippery slope once in office.

Candidates need to impose their personal ethics and standards on their campaigns and anyone associated with their campaign. The campaign is where we begin to see the leadership skills of the candidate emerge. There is no room for sloppiness and moral lapses. If a candidate cannot effectively manage his/her campaign, how will that candidate manage in office when he or she is likely to have even less control of the situation.

The campaign should be a reflection of the candidate’s values. Candidates should not tolerate devious campaign tactics regardless of how effective they may be. Nor should one candidate engage in mud-slinging because his/her opponent has done so. If a candidate is willing to sacrifice principle to get elected, how are we supposed to trust that candidate in office?

Character, not to be confused with religious beliefs or practices, is perhaps the most important trait in any candidate. Character is always proven by action and not by words. Political speeches tell us very little about how effectively a candidate will govern. However, actions do not lie.

As voters, we need to be aware of a candidate’s qualifications. Those include character, leadership, experience, dedication, and perhaps a little humility because public service should be seen as an honor and an opportunity to serve the public.

If we ever expect to raise politics out of the mire, we need to avoid being distracted by political gamesmanship and focus on the qualities of the candidates. Vote for the candidate who consistently demonstrates the qualities we want in our elected representatives and avoid frivolous reasons like who is the most likeable, who has the best hair, who is the most familiar.

If we can elect truly responsible, ethical, dedicated people, we will have the kind of government we want.