Thursday, April 12, 2007 Editorials: Assessing accomplishments
THE camp of Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia launched its campaign last Tuesday with activities that included a video presentation of what she accomplished in three years.
By doing that, Garcia virtually dared her opponent, Rep. Antonio Yapha, and his running mate, Rep. Clavel Asas-Martinez, to dissect what her camp presented.
It also put pressure on Yapha and Martinez to bare their accomplishments not only in Congress but also in the districts that they controlled for three three-year terms.
Indeed, in a situation where political rivals have at one time or another held elective posts, the campaign should focus on the concrete and not on the abstract.
This means assessing the candidates' accomplishments and in the process getting a glimpse of their competence as public servants.
Opposition’s worth
Yapha and Martinez may no longer be running for Congress but what they did in their respective districts will help voters assess their worth as possible Capitol officials.
Their work ethic, creativity and stand on important issues can be gleaned on the number and the kind of laws they sponsored.
The manner they respond to the needs and problems of their constituents is shown on the quantity and quality of the projects funded by their pork barrel.
Their character as officials is seen in the controversies they were involved in.
Bragging rights
Meanwhile, Garcia and Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez, being the incumbents, do own the bragging rights in the implementation of projects in the province.
But the quantity and quality of their accomplishments should also be assessed objectively, like what some sectors that are questioning Capitol’s priorities are doing.
The same thing should apply in Cebu City, considering that Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s chief rival, Mary Ann de los Santos, is also the barangay captain of Lahug.
While de los Santos' turf is smaller than that of Osmeña, voters can assess their competence and character by looking at how they are running the affairs in their areas.
Objective assessment
The point is that voters can evade being fooled by the makeover of candidates during the campaign period by assessing objectively their record while in office.
This will also disprove the notion that voters have short memories, meaning, they remember only the good traits that candidates display during the campaign period.
