Point Austin: On the Endorsement Carousel

Campaign time used to be referred to as "silly season" – more or less the political equivalent of cedar fever – although in recent years (accelerated with the advent of web and social media), it has become a year-round and perennial affair. Now, novice candidates essentially begin new campaigns the moment the previous round of votes is counted, and another handful run from the polling place to the courthouse. (Like quaint Victorians, Aus­tinites have belayed that process a bit in City Council races, but should Council Member Don Zimmerman get his way in court, we may soon see the same at City Hall.)

So I'm not certain there's a distinct silly season anymore, but within the larger realm of election upon election, we've once again entered the "endorsement cycle," which lays its own claim to periodic zaniness. With the primaries only weeks away (March 1; early voting begins Feb. 16), and the Democratic primary the default election for most Travis County offices, candidates have been running from Democratic club meeting to club meeting, activist group gathering to neighborhood grip-and-grin, hoping for the jolt of name recognition and adrenaline offered by a quick round of Who-Am-I speeches and a show of hands. (The Republican versions tend to be less raucous, but much the same in content.)

These miniature caucuses form not the most scientific or even rational system, and – as we've reported from time to time – are regularly subject to campaign gaming of various sorts, with supporters joining and attending several organizations across the city, and dutifully reiterating their choices. That makes it even more difficult to surmise the meaning of any one endorsement – but in a limited-information universe, the one-eyed voter is king.

In Our House Too

For the moment, I'll leave it to the campaigns to inform you of the overwhelming preference for their candidate, only to add that the Chronicle is hardly immune to this merry-go-round. As we do every year – with our resources severely stretched last summer and fall by the 78 filers for the nascent 10-1 campaigns – we are currently inviting candidates for interviews, and planning to endorse in most if not all of the contested primary races. (It's hardly a secret that our politics lean Democratic or independent, though not exclusively – not unique in this town, although the traditionally blue voting populace appears to be slowly trending purplish.)

Partly from limited resources (we don't enjoy the luxury of a non-reporting "editorial board") and partly from experience, we do things a bit differently. Our "board" is essentially the News staff and editors, the publisher, and any other editors who occasionally choose to participate. Depending on the race, we tend to winnow large fields with early research and reporting, and invite for interviews only candidates we are seriously considering for endorsement. That preserves time and allows for more productive interviews for both ourselves and the chosen candidates – although those "winnowed" from the list seldom see it that way, and the process can leave hurt feelings (which would be hurt in any case). It can't be helped – and it helps make better decisions.

Know Your Stuff

What are we looking for? Some things will be obvious from more than three decades of our reportage: an institutional emphasis on issues of social justice, preservation of a livable city, county, and state, equity and fair-dealing in public policy – and then matters specific to a particular office or seat. Not so obvious to some candidates who arrive spouting what they presume to be Chronicle platitudes are more hardheaded notions about applicants for public service. Can they answer a direct question, can they think on their feet, do they listen at least as much as they talk, do they appear to be able to temper their personal politics to govern on behalf of a whole community?

Those latter questions are mostly unspoken, and they seldom evoke obvious answers, although occasionally candidates shine or founder not on particular policy or political opinions but simply apparent ability. Sometimes forgotten in our prevailing cultural instincts for amateurism is that competence and experience are real assets to any candidate, who happens to be applying to the voters for an actual and generally difficult job. (Term limits are a subject for another day, but in how many real occupations is experience considered a disqualification?)

So, if you are among those candidates receiving a summons from Chronicle staffers in coming days, those are a few matters to consider as you prepare yourself for your audition. For readers who are Travis County voters, perhaps this background will help you understand how we came to the recommendations we will soon be offering, and whether the values expressed there coincide with your own judgments of what makes a good officeholder.

At the high-speed rate at which candidates are now evaluated, our contributions will provide a few more bits of information in the roiling data stream. Use them as you will, but come election day, please do use them.