Now that I have your attention with the title, let me explain.
I am always skeptical when candidates emphasize that they mainly want to listen to constituents or when they make listening a pillar of their bid.
My immediate reaction is: Is that all you've got?
Have you not been reading the newspapers, The Hamiltonian, The Hamilton Spectator, The Public Record, Facebook, and the countless other places where Hamiltonians have been expressing their concerns for years? In many cases, they are not merely speaking; they are practically pleading for relief.
Of course listening is part of campaigning. But to me, it is like a mechanic saying, "First, I'm going to look at your car."
Well, of course you are.
I expect you to.
Why are you telling me that?
Tell me how you're going to fix it.
In political terms, I want to hear your vision for Hamilton. More importantly, I want to know whether you possess not just a good understanding, but an exceptional understanding of how to turn that vision into reality.
Listening is not the destination. It is the starting point.
The candidates who will earn my attention are not the ones who tell me they are listening. They are the ones who demonstrate that they have listened, have understood, and have a credible plan to act.
Then, perhaps, I'll be listening.
