A variety of societal changes can be traced to the 1960s, not the least of which is how we choose our elected leaders.
Before John F. Kennedy ran for President in 1960, Americans were meticulous in traits they sought in political candidates — white, male, protestant — especially at the federal level. Some states were more progressive. In fact, Virginia elected a Black governor in 1931.
But, when it came to President of the United States, there was more than a little concern if a Catholic could be elected.
We’ve come a long way since then and in 2025, we tend to focus more on what a candidate says he or she can — or will — do for us, as individuals, as a community, a state or as a nation.
But, there are still some who believe there should still be lines drawn in the sand — specific character traits or historical facts that should disqualify a person from holding any elected office.
For many, one disqualifier is having a felony conviction on your record.
But, we Americans elected Donald Trump to the highest position in the land, and he has 34 felony convictions to his credit.
Trump’s convictions are highly contested and still in the appeals process, but it is a fact that a convicted felon is in the White House, leading our country.
Using that as a backdrop, with municipal elections happening in Washington County in just a few weeks, and knowing that a simple Internet search will reveal much about anybody’s past, I ask: What do you consider a disqualifier to hold public office?
A local political watcher has become concerned with the shenanigans routinely played out for all to see during Plymouth Town Council meetings. So, he spent the money and time to look up background information on all candidates for political office for Plymouth — all 17 of them — and all department heads, and brought copies to me.
He wants me to publish every felony, every traffic ticket, every bad check, every civil judgment and every finding of non-payment of taxes — and there’s an abundance of them.
I’m pretty sure I don’t want to do that for several reasons, not the least of which is that I don’t think my fingers could dance across they keyboard that much in a month of Sundays. But, if we’re honest, we can’t say it’s OK for Donald Trump to be president — because we watched the “lawfare” waged against him for those 34 convictions — but it’s not OK for a person with 20-year-old convictions to hold elected office in Plymouth, North Carolina.
There are far more recent indicators of current officeholder’s characters, easily discerned by reading accounts of council proceedings from the last couple of years or watching recorded meetings from the same period of time.
Just like we can watch Donald Trump’s interactions day to day — because they’re recorded — we can watch council’s behavior to determine whether or not we condone their behavior and decisions made or not. We can use that information to decide whether or not we should cast our ballot for those currently seated at the big table.
It’s a little more difficult for newcomers to the political scene, but none of us can hide from our past and a simple Google search will reveal much.
Early voting for municipal elections starts on October 16 and I encourage everybody to be informed before casting your ballot.
Ask yourself, is my town in better shape now than it was two years ago?
Am I happy with the quantity and quality of decisions that have been made?
Is progress being made? Are the right people being held accountable — is anybody held accountable — when that answer is no?
Decide for yourself what path you want your town to follow for the next two years and who you believe will best set that course.
Then cast your ballot.
Just remember, your entire community with either pay or profit from the final outcome.
Mary Wayt, The Beacon’s publisher and editor, may be reached by telephone (252) 793-2123, or via e-mail at editor@roanokebeacon.com.