Many candidates opt for ignorance

Vast majority of political hopefuls ignore Project Vote Smart's test

FOR COMPLETE RESULTS

from Project Vote Smart's Political Courage Test, go online Thursday to votesrnart.org or call (8BB) VOTE-SMART (868-3762). Ignorance is not bliss. If anything it spells misery. Some may argue that voters with only a sketchy knowledge of the candidates or the issues is a crisis of its own, in which almost all the options are bad. But ignorance in an election is far worse, setting off a chain of events that will eventually end in catastrophe. That's the impression we get from the response — or lack thereof — from gubernatorial, congressional and legislative candidates to Project Vote Smart's 2DD8 Political Courage Test. Candidates in West Virginia's state and congressional races were mailed the the test June 18 and were asked to meet a Wednesday deadline. The test, administered by Project Vote Smart, asked candidates one key question: Are you willing to tell voters your positions on the issues you will most likely face on their behalf? If they answer yes, they are then asked to demonstrate that willingness to speak up on a host of issues, including some they can even duck. In order to pass the test, the candidates had to respond yes, no or undecided to only 70 percent of the issue areas and may answer in their own words. If the results of the candidates' response to the 2008 test are any indication of political courage, we have something to fear. Just three of seven congressional candidates responded — all Republicans, including one incumbent, Shelley Moore Capito, and two challengers.

Among gubernatorial candidates, Gov. Joe Manchin did not respond, while the GOP challenger, Russ Weeks' response is pending his signature following his online response.

Among legislative candidates, only 58 of 260 candidates completed the test — an abysmal 22 percent. Of those, four candidates' responses are also preliminary, while awaiting signatures, including the 46th House District's Delegate Stan Shaver, D-Preston.

Otherwise, among some 30 local candidates only incumbent Delegate Alex Shook, D-Monongalia, and Republican challengers Cindy Frich and Harry Bertram, in the 44th House District; Rick Starn, a GOP challenger in the 43rd House District; and three Senate candidates, two in the 2nd Senate District, the incumbent, Sen. Jeffrey Kessler, D-Marshall, and Fred Brunner, his Republican opponent, and Gary Howell, also a GOP hopeful in the 14th Senate District, took the test.

Make no mistake, the candidates who responded to this test are making a good-faith effort to keep voters informed through a resource that provides accurate and unbiased information to make an informed vote.

And for those who did not respond, although they may have their reasons, ignorance doesn't serve the voters' interests and certainly should not serve the candidates'.