Who should I vote for?

With Election Day staring us in the face, it’s both a question on minds across the county right now and one we better answer quickly. 

When it comes to local elections, the answer may be easier to come by than you realize. 

It’s no secret that government jobs dominate the market in Sullivan County. All around us are people employed by the county, a town, a school district, a library, a village, or the state. 

This means most of us have easy access to the people who will be most immediately affected by the outcome — the people who will have to work for those who are elected. 

When we head to the polls, we’re not just voting for the town highway superintendent or county sheriff. We’re also voting for people who will sit in management positions, who will be in charge of people’s livelihoods. 

The decision in our hands will dictate what kind of workplace these employees will show up to day in and day out. 

If the person we elect is the kind of manager who communicates well, treats employees fairly and creates a supportive work environment, those employees are likely to thrive and productivity is likely to be high. 

This is good first and foremost for the human beings in those roles. We should care about our friends and neighbors, after all. We should want them to have a healthy workplace to show up to each day. 

But the truth is, picking good bosses on Election Day is also good for us, the people who live here and benefit from these public sector roles.  

If the person we vote for is a micromanaging tyrant with a tendency to lash out and play favorites, not only will the employees who live all around us suffer, but so will job productivity. 

Those of us who depend on the work done by those in these roles will feel the effects of employees putting in little or no effort on the job. A high rate of job turnover is likely too — increasing costs overall, which will have a trickle down effect on us, the taxpayer. 

If you’re not sure who to vote for this election, look around you. Who do you know who will be managed by whoever you pick? 

Reach out, and ask them two simple questions: Who do YOU want to work for? Why?