I was looking over some of the responses on the "Who would you vote for" thread and was noticing that a number of people seem conflicted as to the qualifications and/or qualities desired from candidates for the Fayette Board of Education.

I think that most people would like to have a candidate that has some experience (or involvement) with the education system, a person who can articulate his/her platform and priorities, a person who can work with others to achieve a consensus (unlike, say, the Clayton County freak show) and a person who is accountable to the public.

I wonder why these candidates are so few and far between?

Janet Smola, on paper, seems to fit the bill. She's been involved with the school system and can articulate her priorities. Yet she seems prone to grandstanding and doesn't appear too enthused about dirtying herself by deigning to converse with the masses.

A number of first time candidates this round of elections seem to be one-note "protest" candidates....is this any way to run a county?

David Houston seems to want the death penalty for Clayton county students caught attending Fayette schools. Well, gee, suppose we clean 'em all out...what then?

Someone said Mark Aasen is running solely to keep his kids from being redistricted. This is leadership?

"Doctor Mary Kay" seems to be the education lobby candidate...would she listen to the public?

Whatever happened to the average citizen stepping up and saying "Hey, I'd like to serve!" Sadly, many people, and I'm embarassed to say I am one of them sometimes, will respond "yeah? well what qualifies YOU to serve?"

Have we gotten so jaded that we're content to sit around and kvetch and settle for lackluster incumbents while waiting for the perfect (and seemingly non-existant) candidate?