DEAR EDITOR:

If you are seeking elected office, it is reasonable to expect that you understand how the township is financially structured and how its budgets are managed. That means requesting records, attending meetings and gaining a clear picture of the township’s fiscal operations. Running for office is, in many ways, like applying for a job — and the taxpayers are effectively the hiring committee.

When voters ask about your qualifications, experience and understanding of fiscal responsibility, those questions are not incidental; they are essential. Taxpayers must be diligent and thoughtful when making these decisions, because the outcomes affect every resident.

For example, a well-prepared candidate should be ready to discuss topics such as union contracts, government regulations, financial accounts, budgeting practices and employee health-insurance costs. They should also be able to show that they have researched future needs related to roads, infrastructure and major purchases.

In short, our community needs to elect candidates who are demonstrably qualified and prepared to make informed decisions on behalf of all citizens.

Too many times I see candidates run for a “title” instead of the job.

STEPHANIE HOVIS

Cortland