The current race for mayor of Fresno is distinguished by an abundance of information on and from the 11 candidates, perhaps more than at any time in the past. The Internet is a big reason for that, as we discuss in an editorial today. There have also been a bunch of useful forums with the candidates.
And it helps, in terms of liveliness, that there's no incumbent. It really is a hotly contested race, with a number of bright, articulate candidates offering a wide range of solutions for what ails Fresno.
The great pity is that most people will opt out of this crucial campaign. County elections officials estimate the June 3 turnout will be no more than 30% of eligible voters. That's seven out of 10 potential voters who can't be bothered to help chart a course for the state's sixth-largest city over the next four years. But I bet we hear from them when something goes sideways in their neighborhoods, or when the next crisis erupts at City Hall.
I'm tempted to suggest a new policy to my colleagues for handling letters to the editor. Whenever we get a letter complaining about city affairs, we check whether the writer is a registered voter, and has voted in recent elections. If not, we send our heartfelt regrets. Something like:
"You want this letter in the paper? Well, you're SOL, slacker."
What are you saying, Russ - that we don't need the traditional news media to get facts and analyze candidates and their positions anymore? We can just get it all from the internet without any "media filter"? A little surprising to see that from a long-time newspaperman.
I admit that there is a lot of stuff on the candidates' websites. Much more than when I last checked a few months ago. A lot of it is just standard "I'll get the job done" fare, but there is some substance, too. I'm not sure about some of their ideas, though. Like Jim Boswell's proposal for solar light standards - will it work? Who knows?
Maybe the answer is out there on the internet.