How To Become a Better Voter

It’s time to take a hard look at how and who we vote for political leadership in America. We are in dire need of improvement in selecting elected officials from President down to local offices. When someone has the power to make decisions that significantly affect our lives including health, education, jobs, businesses, finances, housing, security and all facets of our existence as a nation, it’s imperative to make educated choices about those we place in position to impact our well-being.

People are far too lax in voting practices. As a result, we have become a society more interested in party affiliation and personal agendas as opposed to voting for persons who actually care about how we all succeed as a nation for the present and future.

We don’t have a perfect political party and if leadership is purely based his or her personal beliefs, an entire group of people are left without a voice. For this reason, Congressional electors must work in partisan or regardless of who is in office, the wheel will only keep turning and nothing gets accomplished.

Sheila L. Agnew 

It’s up to the voters to elect people who are true leaders and fairly represent all people.  No longer can we exist as a split and broken nation. The time has come for change.  Each one can be a part of that change by choosing to look deep before we leap into a candidate.

Having similar beliefs is important, but that does not necessarily make the best leader.  Every candidate for any office should possess compelling qualities that may include,

 Servant Leadership

 Character

·         Integrity

·         Trustworthy

·         Ethical

·         Humility

·         Vision

·         Passionate

·         Knowledgeable

·         Compassion

·         Inspiring and Empowering

·         Emotional Intelligence

A governing leader must have qualifications, characteristics and achievements relative to the office they are elected to.  When it comes to the lives of people they serve, we should evaluate candidates by their deeds and not just their promises. Elected officials should lead by example and we the people should never accept poor behavior and questionable backgrounds, particularly when there is no evidence to solidify notable life changes have occurred.  We can change the political climate when candidates who lead justly and fairly are elected.

Also, it’s not just the candidates that have a responsibility.  Voters also are responsible to research, attend town hall and community meetings, send emails and make phone calls about your concerns to elected and proposed electors. We have the responsibility to activate due diligence in helping to create a city, state and nation that supports all its people.

Lastly, let’s teach our children early about voting and what it means to their future. Demonstrate the importance of electing people who represent our nation so that they will be educated about the process and hopefully actively participate in building and maintaining our nation once they are voting age.

Sheila L. Agnew is an author, certified personal trainer, senior and women's fitness specialist, print model. Her blog is http://www.sheilaagnew.blogspot.com

Women of Color Understanding "A Time for Change in Politics"

   

     While some consider the presidential election a big loss for women and particularly Black women, who polls suggest overwhelming supported Hillary Clinton, we experienced some big wins for women of color in major local, state and national elections.

     In federal elections, three women of color were elected to the US Senate, Tammy Duckworth in Illinois who is Asian-American and a former U.S. Army pilot who lost both legs in combat, Catherine Cortez Masto in Nevada, the nation’s first female Latina Senator and Kamala Harris, an African-Indian American who won with the help of 48% Latino voters from the state of California. 

     Three women were elected to the House including Pramila Jayapal in Minnesota, the first Indian-American women to serve in the House of Representatives and Stephanie Murphy, the first Vietnamese-American female. The state of Delaware is sending its first woman ever to Congress, Lisa Blount Rochester who is African-American.  In January, 15 women have been sworn in to the 115th Congress, 12 Democrats and 3 Republicans. Of the 104 women in Congress, 38 are Women of Color. 

     Women of Color also made strides with local elections. In Jefferson County Alabama, the county seat of Birmingham and the most populous city in the state, nine Black female judges were historically elected in district and circuit courts. Another Jefferson County located in Beaumont, Texas elected a Black woman, Zena Stephens to the office of Sheriff.  The county overwhelmingly voted Republican, but elected Zena who is a Democrat in a landslide vote. Orlando, Florida also elected its first Black Female Chief of Police, Val Demings.

     All of the mentioned elected officials won on initiatives that significantly affect women including quality healthcare, equal pay, economic disparity, immigration reform, gun control and racial equality. These wins resulted in voters choosing who they felt were the best candidates, which happened to be deserving women of color. 

     The value in getting involved in the political system can be of significant importance for women, our children and our future. We can start at the community level by being heard and seen in a positive manner. As newly elected sheriff, Zena Stephens says, “I credit my win to my long history in the community and building relationships across political lines.”

     We must look beyond what many women see as a defeat and if history has anything to do with our rise from adversity, we will prevail in breaking the Glass Ceiling.