Farry, Harry, and Normalcy (Frank Farry, Harry Arnold, and the Write-In Campaign)

State Representative Frank Farry has done what most politicians would have done when faced with Harry Arnold’s write in candidacy.  He has tried to out maneuver him.  Harry Arnold isn’t on the ballot as a candidate for the 142^nd house district … no Democrat is.  Mr. Arnold is trying to get himself onto the ballot in the fall, however, by mounting a write in campaign.  In order to be on the ballot in the fall he needs to get at least three hundred write in votes, and he needs to be the top vote getter among ’Democrats.’  Farry has called this a “tactic” perpetrated by “partisan Democrats.”  He hasn’t limited himself to name calling and attacking the messenger, however.  He is mounting his own campaign to be written in on the Democratic ballot.  He sent a letter to Democrats asking that they write him in, and handed out a similar appeal to Democrats at the entrances to polling places.  I guess Mr. Farry is a ‘non-partisan Democrat.’  I guess Farry didn’t consider questioning Arnold’s commitment to the race and the position, all the while making it clear that he will welcome Mr. Arnold to the race if the voters decide he should be in it.  That would have made Mr. Farry appear confident, capable, and focused on the issues and on his constituents’ wishes.    It would have, however, not been the normal course of action for a politician.  Frank Farry is a normal politician, which is a shame since I think we deserve  something more.