How Can A (Local) Election Process Contribute To Building Community?
Rajiv Mehta
CEO Atlas of Care | Helping Communities and Organizations Build Cultures of Belonging and Wellbeing
An Unexpected Observation About a Political Campaign
In my town of Mountain View CA there are nine candidates running for city council (there are four open spots). One of the candidates, IdaRose Sylvester Sylvester, told me that the process of campaigning — the seemingly endless forums to speak to different segments of the community, the slog of door-to-door canvassing, commiserating over the incivility of online forums — has led to a strong bond amongst the candidates.
Who’d have thought such a thing could happen?!
Granted, the Mountain View city council race features a slate of candidates that are generally nice to each other, especially compared to the mud-slinging and nastiness in city council elections in some neighboring cities and campaigns for other offices, but still … this seems unusual.
Looking for Examples … Can This be Done By-Design?
Which made IdaRose and me wonder. How could a community manage elections and campaigns in a way that actively contributes to forging a stronger sense of connection and belonging for the community? What kinds of forums for candidates and events for the public can we create that by-design enrich the community? That aren't just about informing the public on candidates' stances, or accentuating the differences between candidates, but that help deepen awareness of and empathy for the people of the community.
I reached out to the Weave: The Social Fabric Project at the Aspen Institute community , asking: Does anyone know of any communities doing this already? Any Weavers leading such efforts?
So far, I’ve received responses by people excited about the idea, but not with examples to point to.
Do any of you, reading this on LinkedIn, know of examples?
Let’s Just Try Something
In the absence of examples to follow, we’ll just have to move forward with an experiment. IdaRose and I are going to try and bring together all the candidates, and a few others from the community, to talk this question. We’ll ask candidates to share their experiences from this campaign — How has it affected their connections with each other and the community, and their sense of belonging in the community? And, then use those stories as a springboard to imagine — How can we design and manage a (local) election process that by-design contributes to building community?
Photo: Mountain View City Council Candidate Forum, 9 October 2024, by Rajiv Mehta
Advisory Member at Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging
1 个月Raj, this is a fabulous opportunity to elucidate and further pursue. Kudos to your local community and the conversation of civility, care and impact that strengthens community capacity and empathy.
Battalion Chief at MVFD
1 个月Raj, I love that question with the image of all the Mountain View City Council candidates below! Awesome. Keep asking great questions!
As I will be running for local office next year, I will be watching this very closely! I love the idea that local elections can actually serve to enhance community cohesiveness. My situation may be a little different - because we are pretty much a "one party" town, so really the contest, if any, is in the primary. But that should make campaigning in the general even more about focusing on our town, and less on the candidates. Maybe we can chat about this more when I see you next week!