An opinion – “There is no such thing as a learner’s permit for newly elected officials.”

 

 

 

 

Suanne Z. Thamm – Reporter-News Analyst

Now that the elections are finally over, we offer our sincere congratulations to all the winners and our heartfelt condolences to their opponents.  Whether they win or lose political races, the fact remains that those who choose to get into the ring have an incredible amount of courage and stamina.  They deserve our respect and our gratitude for caring enough to be willing to subject themselves and often their families to all the criticism they receive for taking a stand.  They also deserve a fair chance from all of us who may have supported their opponents during the campaign.

Someone once said that a critic is the person who knows all the best roads to get to a destination, the best places to stop for gas along the way, the best motels for the overnight stays and the best restaurants that offer the best prices and quality.  There is only one problem:  the critic doesn’t know how to drive a car.  The people we elect are the ones who need to drive that car.  They have the responsibility to get us safely to our destination in a reasonable time and at a reasonable cost.

As we begin that journey with our newly elected officials, I suggest that if we are not yet comfortable in the car, we at least refrain from letting air out of the tires and siphoning gas from the tank before the drivers even start their engines.  We do not yet know our destination or how skilled the drivers may prove to be.  And from their perspective, there is a world of difference between looking at a car in a showroom and getting behind the wheel.

Just as buying a car differs from driving a car, being able to win an election differs from being able to govern.  We have elected two new city commissioners and a new mayor.  We don’t get a chance to test drive them.  They start their engines and pull out of the driveway on December 18.  There is no such thing as a learner’s permit for newly elected officials.  They are expected to hit the ground running with the wisdom of Solomon and the knowledge of the universe at their fingertips.  We won’t know if they read the owner’s manual or passed the eye exam until they are called upon to make decisions that affect Fernandina Beach’s present and future.

So for now let us refrain from rehashing the election and the campaigns, predicting either rosy skies or the end of civilization, or engaging in any of the other non-productive exercises that are based on speculation rather than observation.  Each of us has our own reasons to be optimistic or pessimistic about the future, but none of us has predictive powers.

Let us instead just say congratulations and best wishes to Commissioner-Elect Ed Boner, Commissioner-Elect Pat Gass and Mayor-Elect Sarah Pelican.  May you govern wisely and well on behalf of us all.

November 12, 2012 6:08 a.m.

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Peggy A. Bulger
Peggy A. Bulger(@peggy-bulger1949gmail-com)
11 years ago

Thank you Suanne Thamm for a most welcome opinion piece following what has been a long and exhausting election. The results for local, state, and national races are in. As citizens of a democracy, we all need to work with our duly elected officials to make our nation, state and city stronger. I am looking forward to working with all Amelia Island residents and our City Commission to move us forward.