Voting Rights

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Help Wanted: Large Important State Seeks Capable Executive

California’s recall election encourages us to ask questions about our governing representatives and electoral processes: Who is fit to be in office? Why are we attracted to movie-star candidates? Is an unconventional candidate more likely to make positive changes?

There are 135 official candidates on the recall ballot. How’s a voter to choose?

Who is fit for office?

When you vote for someone, you are essentially hiring her or him to govern your local and/or extended community. When hiring, it is best to fully understand the position that needs to be filled so that you can hire the best candidate.

If voters were to put a “Help Wanted" ad in the paper for the position of Governor, it may look something like this:

Wanted: Chief executive of the State. The Governor ensures that the laws of the state are executed; she or he directs the planning and organization of a large number of state departments and agencies. The ideal candidate possesses broad knowledge, since the position requires an understanding of varied issues –everything from farming to filmmaking. She or he should also be fiscally responsible and familiar with legislative processes. It is essential that candidates are passionate about the State and compassionate towards its people. People unable to raise funds need not apply.

Why are we attracted to movie star candidates?

Arnold Schwarzenegger is not the first actor to run for Governor of California. Ronald Reagan was elected to that office in 1966 and again in 1970 (and we know where his Governorship led him.)

As candidates, actors have a lot going for them. Voters are already familiar with their names and their images. Image has been important to politics since the first televised presidential debate in 1960. Historians have suggested that John F Kennedy beat Richard Nixon because of his more attractive image.

Richard Nixon performed well during the debates, but looked somewhat sickly. He was recovering from knee surgery and refused to wear makeup to improve his five o’clock shadow. JFK looked tan and fit after campaigning in California. Their images were quite a contrast. Although we do not know to what degree image inspires voters, we know that it makes a difference.

Actors have already been screen tested and found appealing by the American public. Schwarzenegger’s name and image have been recognized and celebrated for years now. And what of his image? He is known as a strong (perhaps indestructible) guy who gets things done; his characters do not take “no" for an answer. We have also seen him as loving and comedic. Now, his collection of films can be seen as a brilliant image campaign. Together, Terminator and Twins make a decent political commercial.

But how much do we know about the actor behind the characters?

Is an unconventional candidate more likely to make positive changes?

Not necessarily. It is hard to say what an unconventional candidate will do.

Many of the people running in the California gubernatorial election have never held public office or a civil service job. Therefore, we have no record of their interactions in government.

For example, we know very little about Arnold Schwarzenegger’s political agenda. We know that he voted for proposition 189, an initiative that passed in 1994 and was later thrown out by the courts. This initiative prevented illegal immigrants from utilizing public services.

Do we consider an unconventional candidate’s voting record in the same way that we consider a politician’s voting record? If someone votes for Schwarzenegger because he is fresh and unconventional (as a political candidate), than does his voting record matter?

It could matter to the huge California immigrant community.

We need to ask our candidates questions about the issues.

Although we recognize that image affects elections, we must continue to press our candidates about the issues.

What issues are important to you? Look through our list of Life Issues to learn more about what matters to you. To discuss important issues with other WomenMatter readers [click here], and to contact your representatives [click here].

Update Posted on: 8/20/2003

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