Fri, Jul 04 2008
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Published January 12, 2008 06:13 pm - there still may be hesitancy for some Joplin-area voters to accept that kind of change in leadership. Experience and issues, not gender or race, deciding factors, voters say By Debby Woodin dwoodin@joplinglobe.com Area residents say experience and issues are more important to many voters than race and gender in elections, but there still may be hesitancy for some Joplin-area voters to accept that kind of change in leadership. The time has come for women and minorities to have equal opportunity in politics, residents said, although there still may be enough prejudice around to create problems for some candidates. “I would be ready for (a woman or minority president) but I don’t think the general public will be,” said Barbara Neal, a local businesswoman. “I hope I’m wrong on that. “I think either a minority or a woman could do as good a job as some we’ve had in there.” Some voters expressed fear that a black president might be in danger and wonder how the nation would recover from any violence directed at the president, in addition to worrying about terrorism, the war in Iraq, and the economy and job security. Locally, people who voiced that concern did not want to be named in this story. But it is a concern elsewhere too, according to Associated Press reports. Democratic contender Barrack Obama received Secret Service protection a year ago, the earliest of any presidential candidate ever because of concerns. Melodee Colbert-Kean is the lone female and one of two minority members serving on the Joplin City Council. She doesn’t know if voters at large are ready for a woman or black leader. “I think, in my opinion, that people are more hesitant about what they don’t understand,” she said. “If they don’t have a clear picture or it’s not in terms or situations they understand, they are more hesitant to embrace a change. “You have to encourage everybody to do their own research on all the candidates regardless of who they are or whether they’re man, woman, black, white or Hispanic.” Given the current contenders for the presidential race, gender politics is probably more a topic for Democrats than Republicans, said Linda Williams, Jasper County Circuit Court clerk. She is one of the county’s three female officeholders. “I think we’re ready for a female president who is qualified,” Williams, a Republican, said. “And I think we’re smart enough to figure out who’s qualified.” She said she’s surprised that gender or race is an issue in elections now. “I really do think it’s the qualifications and the experience that determines who I’m going to vote for,” she said. “I think if you’re informed, you’ll know who. My concern is not male, female, black or white. My concern is about who can do the best job with what I’m concerned about.” 
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Running mates could come from Missouri or Kansas w/ link to the web site, politico.com
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