Does the office of the mayor requires qualification?

The dictionary defines qualification as “a quality or accomplishment that makes someone suitable for a particular job or activity.”

Webster goes further and describes it as a “condition or standard that must be complied with (as for the attainment of a privilege.)”

In short, it is an element that gives weight and substance to any righteous claim of merit and validity associated with the realization of that privilege. For without those characteristics (qualification) it renders its use and purpose, virtually meaningless.

And that is the despairing reality we are once again confronted, in the politics of our government.

It is more than interesting to read glowing tributes about a candidate’s likability, that highlights his generosity (and religious faith among others) to compensate for the most basic and necessary requirement of the political office he is seeking, which troubling deficiency was publicly reported in the news.

Unwittingly, his party keeps reinforcing those inadequacies by choosing to hide it, limiting if not totally preventing any meaningful public discourse, particularly with us, his political opponents. (Don’t you wonder why this so-called debate has so many conditions and why it almost did not materialize?)

All of which raises a fundamental question. If his own party does not trust his innate abilities to engage in any serious public dialogue related to the office he is seeking, why then should we?

Yes, why should we?

The answer though is quite simple enough.

Although his shortcomings are and should be troubling for us, it is, however, a rare and unique opportunity for some in his party to exercise undue influence over any decision he will make (if it ever comes to that) which would explain their reticence.

And that is just one of the many problems a critical lack of qualification creates.

This brings me to my other political adversary.

As one of his ardent supporters online rightfully declared, business owners are regularly confronted with the threat of financial ruin or at the very least delinquency in meeting financial obligations that will not only test his resolve if not altogether destroy his credit rating.

As someone with many years of business ownership experience, I can definitively say that owning a business could be equated to nurturing a tempestuous child for it demands one’s intense focus and solid attention or risk insolvency and business failure.

And on that basis alone, never mind the news-reported IRS and state tax delinquencies that threaten his business’s survival, it begs credulity why he would choose to focus his attention in a different venture altogether unless he has given up on his current business, which is the only conclusion his candidacy for the office of the mayor inevitably draws.

Not very long ago I was approached by a married couple in front of Town Hall who narrated their disappointment of the “selfishness and dishonesty of the two other candidates for it is clear that it is not the town’s benefit they are concerned about, but their own interest." In addition “If they were not aware of the message their candidacy is telling everyone about the people of East Haven; about who we are.”

I thought remaining silent would be the appropriate course of action so I merely nodded after which we shook hands as they wished me good luck and said our goodbyes.

Bonifacio (Oni) Sioson