As you may know, Sioux Falls city council candidate, Dr. Sarah Cole hasn’t voted in any city or school board election since moving to our city. I would assume if this was NOT true, she would have made a statement about it, she has NOT. One of her other opponents is not much better, Bobbi Andera, only voting one time in 10 years in a local election.
As I mention in the title, I struggle supporting someone for public office who hasn’t even bothered to take 10 minutes to vote. Does this say something about the time she will dedicate to her job if elected?
I found this article about doctor’s voting records revealing;
One in four physicians didn’t vote in all of the last three presidential elections. So, what’s their excuse?
Dr. Nidhi Goel, a hospitalist at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, offers up a suggestion: “I think everybody will use the excuse of time, which is fair, but then kind of not so much. Because we can find time to do things that are important.”
When Dr. Cole mentions in her latest mailer integrity, it kind of falls on deaf ears. How can we expect her to show up to meetings? Will she be absent, not only in votes but in responding to constituents?
Dr. Nidhi Goel, a hospitalist at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, offers up a suggestion: “I think everybody will use the excuse of time, which is fair, but then kind of not so much. Because we can find time to do things that are important.”
And she’s right. Lack of time is a key reason doctors give for not voting. Researchers who study voting patterns have theorized that doctors vote in lower numbers because medical schools attract people who like science more than civics. Other studies have indicated that many doctors feel like their work has enough social purpose, so they can skip voting, guilt-free.
If this is true, why does Dr. Cole want the job?
Think about it, do you really want to know that your doctor is voting for the candidate you can’t stand? Some doctors stay out of politics for the same reason, so they don’t alienate their patients.
This the same reason why many business people stay out of it, not to alienate customers. Shouldn’t Sarah be worried that a decision she makes on the council may make her look bad affecting her practice and employer?
“We are very linear thinkers,” Lam says. “We base all our decisions, or we try to, on data, on things that we see, on observations. That’s not necessarily the case in policy, where you’re trying to convince people. From a physician’s standpoint, from a scientist’s standpoint, it’s incredibly frustrating to realize that the data might be completely outweighed by one or two stories.”
Lam warns that politicians also make decisions based on who shows up to vote: “If they see that the physician community doesn’t come out to vote as often as, say, the attorney community, then they will probably be more likely to listen to the attorney community than to physicians. Because you don’t turn out to vote.”
I am sure Sarah is a fantastic physician. I have actually heard from colleagues and parents of patients she is good at her job. But being a good doctor may not make her a very good lawmaker as mentioned above.
After Mayor TenHaken’s intimidation tactic on Janet Brekke was revealed, it is even more obvious she was recruited for a job she probably has no desire to have and Poops probably feels he has to make up ground for Sarah due to the lack of her enthusiasm. I also find Councilor Greg Neitzert’s mentoring a little strange considering he is sitting on that very dais because someone mentored him and has since turned his back on those mentors.
If Sarah loses, and I think she will, it will be interesting to see how quickly her relationship with Neitzert and TenHaken deflates.
It turns out, taking good care of patients includes showing up Tuesday morning to pull that lever.
And if she can’t even bother to do that, I would suggest you vote for the incumbent, a former city attorney and prosecutor who will make the time to serve us, Janet Brekke.
Doctors don’t vote, that’s a fascinating reality. Could it be their wealth and the obvious demand for their profession – recession proof actually – makes them feel above the fray? That somehow they are immune to the concerns of the average citizen where all doctors are actually without borders? Perhaps, Putin and his bombing of hospitals will change that though. Better yet, what percent of doctors in the US voted for Trump, I wonder? And by voting for Trump voted for a further appeasement towards Putin and an hopeful reinstatement of the pre-existing condition clause? It’s not so much as to whether they vote, but if they do vote, why would they ever vote for someone like Trump? AND many did, I am sure.
I guess I don’t look at it that deeply, just wealth and time constraints. I said from the beginning that a doctor, any doctor, doesn’t have the time to fully do the job as councilor, and I think this article cements that belief. I also find it strange that Sarah being a single mother was a choice not some tragedy. A quick search would reveal she is divorced from another successful doctor. Nothing wrong with that, happens all the time.
This is a suspect play to dilute the vote and at least trigger a runoff. It’s like entering the lottery. There’s a slight chance you could win and benefit from oligarch bribes while playing solitaire at council meetings. If you lose, you gain exposure for playing the system in another election or manner. Vote, why? Then you’re aligned with a perspective and political party. Someone manipulating the system must be prepared to suddenly change face and character.
I am someone who values my right to vote. I vote at every election.
Anyone, including Dr. Sarah Cole, who has NO VOTING RECORD has NO business running for any elected office!!
I do not think its really all that important if you vote in elections or not, there are other means of making your voice heard, such as becoming advocates for the people, using your voice to form partnerships, coalitions, action plan committees, hosting Town Halls bringing political leaders together among the people. I mean, people like myself often times will play our role in hosting townhalls, such as the two I hosted under the Huether Administration at the Moose Lodge, my first one had 5 people discuss city affairs, and my second one had nearly 100 people show up to discuss Shape Place Zoning Ordinances, the Event Center, the Southside Walmart, etc and it attracted the Mayor, the Planning Director (Mike Cooper), Community Development (Darin Smith), Public Works (Mark Cotter), and not only was it the Mayor’s Learning and Listening Session for 1 hour, the meeting actually extended well beyond 2 hours creating interesting dialogue. If people like myself can become advocates outside of Carnegie, or the Election realm, hey – we have done our job as bringing people together to help make our voices heard. Does it matter to me if Sarah Cole ever voted? No.
“there are other means of making your voice heard, such as becoming advocates for the people, using your voice to form partnerships, coalitions, action plan committees, hosting Town Halls bringing political leaders together among the people.”
And when did Sarah Cole do any of those things? However, she does belong to a book club. LOL.
That would be a start. All Seriousness, I encourage everyone to place themselves on a ballot, at least go thru the motions of doing so, and meeting with people. That is how coalitions are formed.
Why are you telling us this? Maybe inform the good doctor.
It’s your duty as a citizen to vote!
I will NEVER vote for someone who doesn’t care to understand the cherished right we all have to be involved in running the government we own.
Mike – If Sarah has never voted in a SF city election, she shouldn’t be wasting our time asking us to vote for her. This is why politics is so f’d up right now – voters like you have such low expectations.
You want the Sarah’s of our town to “get involved?” Start by volunteering to serve on their neighborhood watch, a non-profit committee, or a city board. Get some experience and perspective first. There are plenty of opportunities to make a meaningful contribution without having their inexperienced fingers on a $500+ million annual budget.
Zit – I’ve endured some real drivel & pathetic use of written English language from you here, but your above remark is a fait accompli that you’re not qualified to use or explain anything more complex than a goddamned spoon. “I do not think its really all that important if you vote in elections.” You’ve gone thoroughly ’round the bend in adolescent contrariness and futile attempts at overthinking issues. There is NOTHING more important in Democracy than voting. This info about the voting records of these candidates is a damming indictment of Cole’s commitment to the Democratic process, and her qualification for office. EVERY voter ought consider this before casting a vote for that poseur, and you simply need to STFU once and for all.
Wow Mikey, People like you are the problem. If you don’t vote, quit whining about the mess that YOU and people like you ALLOWED to happen! Go research the candidates that are running and VOTE for the best, most qualified, or proven one! Out current lack of quality leadership under Democrats should be a prime example. President Trump had us in the best shape as a country in over 50 years. Democraps tore that down in less than 1 year. Beware who you vote for. Very Stable Genius….. I very highly doubt your stability.