Winona Daily News

First, before I begin my thoughts, I want you all to know that this is neither an endorsement for or against any candidate. For the purposes of this writing I stand completely neutral on all elections and by no means am trying to influence your vote and wish all candidates the best of luck this fall.

Whatever your political leanings may be, I strongly encourage you to vote. Many of our ancestors fought and died � and alot of our brothers, sister, neighbors and friends are fighting as you read this � for the cause of democracy, free thinking and the right to determine who your leaders are. Don’t disgrace them with ignorance and complacency by not taking the time to voice your opinion in the polls.

Commonality and solutions are two very important words all candidates should think about. These words are what win elections.

First, commonality. If you are running for office you need to have a common thread with your constituency. You have to have something in common with them other than a ZIP code or district or, in the case of presidential elections, country. You have to relate to them through an invisible interpersonal level. They have to believe that you represent their values, goals and aspirations.

Too often we see candidates running for office who don’t have that commonality to their respective voters, I wouldn’t vote for my friend Johnny Rocket who moved away from Winona 30 years ago to live in Boston to be my senator in D.C. because, plain and simply, even though he has a vacation home in Cross Lake, Minn., he does not represent me as a Minnesotan ... no matter how loudly he proclaims to be Minnesotan and tugs on my heartstrings with his stories of growing up here. As great a person as he is, as a Minnesotan he lost his commonality with me and thereby my prospective vote. Are you hearing me Mr. Franken? Are you hearing me DFL? You want Coleman’s seat? Get a Minnesotan, not a carpetbagger.

Let’s take a look at Sen. Mark Dayton. He is a very wealthy man from a family that could very easily be called a dynasty in Minnesota. Based on wealth and upbringing, he has very little in common with you and me. How did he win? Easy. He had commonality with his voters. People liked him. They identified with him. He left the comforts of his upbringing and figured out what people’s real issues were. He transcended the social limitations of being a multi-multi-millionaire and related to the common man. I could see spending a weekend fishing with him � he relates to me. I am a conservative � a reformed Democrat � but I have the utmost respect for Dayton. He’s a great Minnesotan, no matter what his party affiliation is.

This is not a partisan issue; all candidates should realize this. You must have a commonality to win elections. It is the simplest thing in the world, but it never ceases to amaze me how every two years candidates spend millions upon millions of dollars chasing votes and they forget about the cheapest and most effective way in the world to win an election. Commonality ... it is a must. Rarely does a candidate win without it.

Second, solutions. One of the easiest things in the world for a human to do is to point out others’ weaknesses � whether it be in a marriage, a football game, or, in this case, an electoral race. It is almost human nature to do it. What better way to take the heat of criticism off yourself or your team or whatever point you are promoting than by pointing out the weakness of the opponent or opposing view? Too often we see candidates doing just that. Do I like seeing Americans die on TV every night in the Middle East? No. I hate it Those are my friends and neighbors and relatives. The point, which is easily hidden with a “we’ll bring the troops home immediately” comment, is that there is no easy solution to getting them out of there right now. If a candidate has a solution, other than cutting and running, I want to hear it, and if it seems workable, right or left, you might just get my vote. The thing is, I need to hear a solution, not just talk.

That exact same principle applies to universal healthcare. Heck, do you think I wouldn’t want free healthcare for my son and me? For that matter, for all Americans? It is a great theory; however, show me how you’re going to do it without bankrupting the country, taxing me to the point of insanity and/or providing sub-standard healthcare to all of us.

We know what our nation’s problems are.

We don’t need you to highlight them for us and point at them. What we need you to do for us is provide us with some solutions to these problems.

Commonality and solutions, the two main ingredients to win an election ... are you pols listening now?

A shout-out to the groundskeepers

Wow, I am so impressed with the state of the WSU campus. It certainly has to be the best maintained in the state college system, if

not the state. Well done. I can’t remember ever seeing it look so beautiful. When I walk through, it is almost like a stroll through an arboreteum.

Please forgive me, but I have one small bone of contention. Somsen Hall ... the ivy has consumed most of the gargoyles. I consider those gargoyles to not only be architecturally significant to the old hall, but also historically relevant to the campus and certainly an eye-pleasing asset. Please consider trimming up the ivy around them. It is a shame they are being covered up.

C.E. Woodford is a W-K/WJHS/WSHS/WSU alumni who does, on occasion, visit places that don’t begin with W.
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JOBS