In the Nov. 11 issue of The Reflector, our editorial question asked readers “Did the Liz Pike write-in campaign change your impression of our state representative? If so, do you view Pike more or less favorably.’’
Obviously, the poll is unscientific. We don’t control who votes, who encourages others to vote, or how many times a single person votes using different devices. That said, about three times as many of you (70 percent) responded that you view Pike “less favorably’’ as those of you (22 percent) who responded that you now view Pike “more favorably.’’ About 8 percent of the responses indicated that “it didn’t change my opinion at all.’’
My motives were questioned as to why I would even ask such a question. The reason I asked the question is because I was sincerely interested in gauging public opinion on the matter. There had been suggestions after the results of the Nov. 3 General Election became available that the write-in campaign would be a stain on Pike’s political brand in the future. Personally, I think that’s ridiculous and I believe anyone who is suggesting that is doing so because they weren’t a supporter of Pike’s to begin with and they’re hopeful that she will be tarnished by the failed write-in campaign.
What did Pike do that was so wrong? She was asked by members of her party and close confidants to serve if elected. She said she would. Sure, I wish she would have campaigned for the county chair position and I know she was genuinely conflicted about what was the appropriate thing to do. We all know it is often political suicide to go back on one’s word. Pike wanted to stay true to her commitments and responsibilities, that’s why she just couldn’t jump in the campaign water this time with both feet.
So, Pike did everything she could under the circumstances. She agreed to accept the county chair position if elected and said she would resign her position as state representative in that event. She also filed with the Clark County Elections Department as an official write-in candidate. And, by the way, she wrote in Liz Pike on her own ballot. She also set the record straight when folks around the county misrepresented facts about her position.
I don’t care whether you were a Pike supporter or not, we all knew the write-in campaign was going to be a tall order. That’s why no one has been successful at it since Linda Smith in 1994. It’s hard enough getting folks to fill out a ballot, let alone getting them to properly fill in a name that isn’t even listed on the ballot.
The Republicans made some very key mistakes in Clark County during the past year. But, one of them wasn’t staging the Write In Liz Pike for County Chair Campaign. Nearly 20,000 voters wrote in Pike’s name on their ballot. I wonder how many of those voters wouldn’t have even filled out a ballot if the write-in campaign didn’t exist. And, what would that have done to Julie Olson’s bid to win the District 2 position on the County Council? Remember, Olson only defeated Chuck Green by 1,933 votes.
So, Pike did the right thing. She was true to her supporters. She was consistent and transparent and she will not lose any support from conservative Republicans as a result of her actions, regardless of how much some will suggest otherwise.
The same thing goes for David Madore. Those who are burying Madore politically right now are not those who have ever supported him. Speaking of the mistakes the Republicans made in the past year, the biggest was made in the Aug. 4 Primary when all three current Republican councilors ran against each other. Despite that, Madore failed to advance to the General Election by a mere 898 votes. If either Tom Mielke or Jeanne Stewart wouldn’t have run in the Primary, Madore likely would be headed to the county chair position.
So, while I welcome and appreciate the perspective of others, I don’t always agree with it.
Ken Vance
Editor
