Editor’s Note: Michael Sealfon ran for Kent City Council Position No. 7.
As a member of the baby-boomer generation and a career military officer, I was raised to believe in the principals of honesty, integrity and respect. During the recent election for City Council, as a novice candidate I was naively exposed to the current realities of our political system—the good, the bad and the…ugly.
The good – personally meeting many of the fine citizens of Kent, who are sincere and take their City Council elections seriously and responsibly. Then there was the process of learning the operation and protocol of City Council meetings while absorbing the key campaign issues. Lastly, was the process of learning how to campaign – the use of electronic media, the Internet, flyers, etc.
Now the ugly. First, all, I mean all, my Scenic Hill campaign signage mysteriously disappeared in one evening. Secondly, I was maliciously subjected to an anonymous hate mail campaign which was based upon personal lifestyle choices that were openly displayed on Facebook. Thirdly, and perhaps most important from a legal standpoint, was that all three of my personal computers had been “hacked” and only my personal election-related files deleted.
Based upon my encryption system and additional security software, this was not just an amateur “prank”, but a deliberate and focused attack.
During the campaign process I was surprised at the lack of civility and courtesy a specific candidate demonstrated towards one of the incumbent council candidates. In addition, the race for another council site had implications of racism.
The “lightening rod” campaign issue was not how to successfully manage the city budget nor maintain satisfactory levels of public safety, but a tempest in a teapot concerning the fire levy revenues. Unfortunately, I witnessed in a City Council meeting how citizens could dramatically manipulate TV media for their own agenda.
What are the implications for the average citizen with good common sense, who chooses to perform civic service for his city?
Why would anyone want to subject themselves to indignity or worse for a part-time elected office? How utterly disappointing!
Michael Sealfon
Kent
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