“When a man and a woman are equally qualified and she shares your same principles, she should always be your choice of candidate!” Suddenly this came out of my mouth, loudly and unequivocally, as my younger sister and I discussed candidates in various political races.

I first was surprised by the determination of the statement and secondly by all that it implies. It is fascinating to watch political endorsements get made for political races. Some endorsements are ever so predictable; others seem to be pulled from a hat. Organizations and newspapers do (or should) have a process that is respectable and guidelines that are clear, which advance the mission and principles of said entity. Likewise when we vote for candidates: Those decisions too should be made as a reflection of our core principles and standards.

I for one am a feminist. I am a pragmatic progressive. I am young, and I am Mexican American and a Santa Barbaran, and I believe ethics in politics are paramount. When I look to support a candidate, I carefully evaluate whether the candidate will, for the most part, represent my values and all that I believe, not necessarily that they will vote on everything the way I would like them to, but that their general vision of their jurisdiction matches mine.

It’s so easy to be swayed by carefully crafted campaign slogans, expensive ads, or articles written by biased (or bought) reporters, but at the end of the day, does your vote and therefore your independent endorsement reflect your values and vision? If not, it is always a good time to create a process that yields congruent personal endorsement. – Olivia Uribe

Login

Please note this login is to submit events or press releases. Use this page here to login for your Independent subscription

Not a member? Sign up here.