Fair dart board is no reason to demonize
This will not be the commentary you are expecting, nor will it be to everyone’s tastes. However, it is from the candidate’s mouth, and not through friends, or some back-channel political operative. Important people, voters, are watching me, will read this, will discuss it. My friends, family, neighbors, thousands of my mom’s, my wife’s and my own students will see this, and their expectations of me are even higher.
The Fayette County Fair is about fun, food, and 4H, and should never come up while searching Google or the national news with keywords like “prejudice” or “racism,” because of a dartboard. I planned to respond to the ‘Dartboard’ issue at this summer’s fair once everyone had time to cool down a bit, provide a clear and measured response and explain my position logically.
A knee-jerk reaction on my part without understanding would be a failure, my failure. Truth is so much more complicated than stringing together sound bites and keywords. Most importantly, let’s take a minute and just consider…
Throwing anything at me, my image, or anyone, without our consent, is an aggressive act, and it is not “good fun.” It is hurtful in action and spirit. I am very disheartened over this. Together, we must replace hatred and divisiveness with compassion, through actions like respectful and thoughtful discussion.
So the question arises, “Was this done out of some form of evil motive?” I believe the answer is NO.
I believe this because I have taken my time and made an effort to meet and shake hands with both sides of the Republican Party, here in Fayette County; gotten to know them as my neighbors and listened to their concerns, for our future, just as much as my Independent and Democrat friends and neighbors. I continue these discussions so you can choose me as your Fayette County Commissioner, together as Democrats, Independents, and Republicans, alike, calling me to represent everyone, to be responsible to everyone.
These individuals who made this sloppy decision are neighbors who allowed their bad feelings over national politics to override good behavior. I will not turn our differing opinions, and desire for an equal chance of voicing them, into assigning evil motives. This was sloppy thinking, sloppy behavior, and sloppy politics trying to sensationalize our opinions, instead of taking the time to discuss and have a conversation. It is easy to be tempted to get political mileage out of this situation by demonizing my neighbors, their political party, and making the divisions even worse, but I believe in respecting and honoring my neighbor, even when I disagree with their opinions and actions.
And yes, let me be clear, I am chastising them for this behavior without demonizing them. I am asking them to do better, by thinking about how their words and actions could make other people feel. I am asking them to treat others as they wish to be treated.
As your candidate for commissioner, my campaign is founded on the ideals of the Democratic Party and I am responsible for sharing my disagreement within my own party, as well. Yet, I pledge to build a non-partisan attitude throughout our county government, that will enable our county to move forward, together. I pledge to be a strong leader, that both parties can look to, so that we can begin to change the issues that greatly impact Fayette County. By facing the issues of mental health and drug use, workforce development, blight, and hopelessness, we will realize how these issues impact everyone, and, regardless of political party, we can work together to solve these issues. Our county, our neighbors and our children deserve the best from both Democrats and Republicans, and I pledge to be part of that best effort, to promote healing and growth.
Kevin Jones is a Democratic candidate for Fayette County commissioner and a resident of Fairchance.