Editor’s note: The following letter was submitted to the Keys Weekly in advance of the Aug. 18 primary election.
As another summer election season comes to a close, I’ve found myself reflecting not only on the outcome, but on what recent campaign strategies say about us as a community.
Democracy depends on spirited debate. We should challenge ideas, question decisions and hold public officials accountable. Healthy disagreement is not something to fear — it is essential to self-government.
But increasingly, even our local campaigns have become less about ideas and more about personal attacks. This election season brought fake AI generated videos, misinformation presented as fact, name-calling and even threats directed at candidates and their families. Regardless of who was targeted or which side benefited, that should concern all of us.
Local elections are different. The people who run for school board, city council, county commission, or other local offices aren’t distant political figures. They’re our neighbors. We see one another at school events, youth sports, churches, local businesses and community gatherings. Long after Election Day, we’ll still be living and working side by side.
When political disagreement becomes personal hostility, everyone loses. Families who never sought public attention become targets. Volunteers think twice before getting involved. And qualified, thoughtful people begin to wonder whether public service is worth the personal cost.
As a school board member and parent, I often think about the lessons we hope to teach our children. We ask students to tell the truth, treat others with respect, disagree without bullying and solve problems through thoughtful discussion. They are watching us. If we expect them to model those values, we must be willing to model them ourselves.
Technology has made this challenge even greater. Artificial intelligence can now create convincing images, videos and audio that never existed. Each of us has a responsibility to pause, verify what we see and resist sharing misinformation simply because it supports our preferred candidate.
This campaign is over, but our community is not.
Tomorrow we’ll still be neighbors, working together to strengthen our schools, support local organizations and build a better Monroe County.
The yard signs will come down, but our commitment to truth, civility and respect for one another should remain.
Sue Woltanski M.D., Monroe County School Board, District 5
The opinions expressed in this column are solely the writer’s and do not necessarily represent the views of the Monroe County School Board or the Monroe County School District.
