Elections and civility

As the electors prepare to vote on the presidential election, imagine having a wife and good friend competing for a local office.

“Keep me out of this” is a phrase I use with the kids, and it’s taken on new urgency now. Everyone respects neutrality until it doesn’t benefit them for you to be neutral. The close-knit fabric of communities meansmy struggle isn’t that unique. Small-town elections can affect friendships.

Based on that, I’m going to give some advice. Call itmy philosophy for good leadership.

Start by being a good neighbor. To those whowant to run for office, lead by genuine action and by example, but above all, be kind. Theway in which you campaign foreshadows howyou will govern and work even with those who disagree with you.

When I sought union leadership, my members knewmywork, and that alone mademy case. I enjoyed tremendous support. I didn’t look for endorsements or run a slick campaign; I didn’t need to.

Unlike national politics, long after your local race is over, you will still live in the same community, share the same friends, get groceries at the same stores and hopefullywork together for the betterment of the village.

When the election is over, I’d like to live in a place where I can still have a drink withmy wife andmy buddy, the discussion being about not policy but rather about meeting up at a DuPage Pistol Shrimp baseball game on a nice day or celebrating amilestone in the life of one of our friends.

If that can happen and only if that happens, dowe all as a community have a starting point for civility and a channel for open discussion.

— Raza Siddiqui, Lisle