01/02/14: A homework assignment for Tuesday

This op-ed appeared in The Virginian-Pilot on the date shown.

NEXT TUESDAY, voters in the 6th Senate District will choose their next representative. The choice between the candidates, Democrat Lynwood Lewis and Republican Wayne Coleman, couldn’t be more stark.

More than half of voters in the 6th District live in Norfolk, but the district also encompasses Accomack and Northampton counties on the Eastern Shore, Mathews County and a small sliver of Virginia Beach.

The 6th has been represented since 2008 by Ralph Northam, who will be vacating the seat due to his election as lieutenant governor.

One of the difficulties a first-time candidate faces is the lack of familiarity with the issues. It’s fairly easy to either take the party’s position on the issues or to nationalize the conversation.

The harder way is to delve into the issues and come to a conclusion on your own. It is pretty normal for candidates to have briefing books prepared that they study in order to gain a better understanding of the issues.

The easy way is a political choice, while the hard way is a policy choice.

For some, the political is all that matters. The public part of a campaign is often nothing more than political theater. Candidates appear before friendly groups and say what those groups want to hear.

I prefer policy, as it is policy positions that give us an idea of how a candidate will govern.

I’ve watched candidates grow over the course of a campaign, as they become better informed of the intricacies of policy. Even when I disagree with their conclusions, I respect that they have taken the time to learn about issues.

Understanding the issues is what allows our representatives to reach common ground. Without that, we have political decision-making that leaves what is best for the people out of the equation.

Look at how long it took for Virginia’s legislature to set aside politics and pass a transportation bill, despite overwhelming evidence that the investment was sorely needed.

Since the parties’ nominating contests in November, I’ve paid close attention to the candidates in the 6th District contest.

I’ve listened carefully to see not only whose views align with my own — neither one does 100 percent — but also who has demonstrated that he has a grasp of the challenges facing Virginia. It hasn’t been easy, as public forums with both present have been lacking.

The closest that we have come to seeing the two of them together is separate interviews they gave to local TV station WAVY. The interviews are available on the company’s website, http://www.wavy.com/candidates.

The difference in who is ready to represent me is readily apparent.

I urge all voters in the 6th to do their own homework on who is best to represent them. And, of course, to vote on Jan. 7.