DOWNEY — There are certain things that most – if not every – city council candidate is guilty of doing; election cliches, political faux pas, if you will.

With an election just around the corner and having interviewed and analyzed my fair share of previous candidates, I thought it might be fun (albeit nauseating) to point out some of Downey’s most notorious old political chestnuts, perhaps in hopes that our current candidate crop may avoid one or two.

And before anyone says anything, yes, I know a lot of these are how you play the political game; it doesn’t mean I’m not going to roll my eyes at you anyways.

1) BEING WISHY-WASHY

You’ve seen me write about this before: I hate when candidates toe the line on their stances, trying too hard to please everyone and not lose any voters with what they say.

Election season is the residents of Downey’s chance to really get to know who may be representing them in just a few short months; it’s critical to get as crystal clear of a picture as possible before casting our ballots.

New taxes. Giving tax dollars to non-profits. Spending more or less on police. Rent control and affordable housing. Yes or no? This, or that? We want to know where you stand firmly, and why. Voters aren’t dumb; we can tell when you’re just trying to please the room and / or save face.

Coming off of the last few years, I (and I’m sure, most other constituents) would prefer to hear something we don’t like from a candidate now, rather than later from the dais.

2) “I SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT / I BELIEVE IN TRANSPARENCY”

You can count on almost every candidate to say one (if not both) of the above sayings; it’s probably part of their official platform.

Look, my issue with it isn’t with the ideas themselves, its that they’re constantly used almost like a free space on a bingo card; like something to check off on a to-do list.

You back our police? Fantastic. What do you plan on doing for them once you’re in office? How do you plan on making their job easier, more efficient, and more effective?

You’re an open book? Prove it. Be accessible, and not just when others are looking.

Instead of just saying that public safety and transparency are your schtick, it’d be nice for once to hear new, fresh ideas on how you plan on following through.

3) BEING PART OF EVERY PHOTO-OP YOU CAN FIND

You know that kid in high school who wasn’t (or was just barely) part of the extra-curricular activities, but somehow managed to make it into every picture of the yearbook? I’ve seen my fair share of candidates do the same.

Too often I see would-be electeds show up to an event (oftentimes alongside their favorite city councilmember), smile nice and big for the camera, then almost immediately leave; you wouldn’t know they had been there if it weren’t for the Facebook post they’ll be tagged in later.

You really want to show that you’re there? Get involved. Get your hands dirty. Stay more than thirty minutes. If you’re looking for a picture, an action shot is much better than a posed one anyways.

4) ENDORSEMENTS

I am numb to endorsements; they’re repetitive, boring, and often about as long as your receipt at CVS.

But the worst thing about endorsements is the icky feeling they give of a candidate being hand-picked, or a seat being gate kept; especially when it seems like everyone is on board with the same person, with nothing more than “They’ve been involved in / they know the city” to say for it.

It’s not a bad thing to have the green-light from a respected member of the community, but that can’t be all a candidate has to offer. Candidates have a tendency to lean back on who supports them, and the last thing Downey needs is a “Good Ol’ Boys and Girls” club. Let’s pick our candidates based on virtue, value, position, and work, and not just because a former mayor, a current school board member, or a collective group or organization says so.

5) USING DOWNEY DOODLE-ICIOUS IN YOUR CAMPAIGN PHOTO

Congratulations, you found the most popular mural in Downey.

I’ll admit this is probably the most nitpicky on this list, but Doodle-icious campaign photos make me cringe just as much as those posed pictures where a candidate is “out in the community speaking with residents” (We all know that’s your Aunt Theresa and Uncle Joe standing next to you).

The Columbia Memorial Space Center. One of our parks. Downtown Downey. Maybe even one of our schools. Heck, I’d event take the Speedee Arch or El Taco for that matter.

Your campaign photo is often your first impression and Downey is rich with its own history and culture. Get creative! Show me you really know the city you want to represent, and that you aren’t just an Instagrammable candidate.

All jokes aside, the residents of Downey deserve to know their election candidates as their most authentic selves; when every candidate says and does the same thing, the ballot becomes muddled. Varying ideas, points of view, personalities, and a little bit of competition can only benefit Downey in the long run. As election season begins to pick up over the next few weeks and months, lets hope that our candidates take strong stances, put their noses to the grindstone, and altogether elevate our city as a whole.