Charles Shiflett Column July 04, 2004

One-Horse Charlie

Good old one-horse Charlie - over the years we've all seen him. You'll find his name on the ballot
almost every election cycle. For you non-political types, a one-horse Charlie is a candidate for office
whose campaign is based almost entirely upon one single issue or cause. An example would be a
parent who decides to run for the board of education because he is upset about a change in school
bus routes or attendance zones and plans to “fix” that one issue.

Maybe someone is fired from their government job and runs for election to the office that oversees that
government department - just to get back at those who terminated him or her. Perhaps a government
program or agency is downsized or eliminated, and someone directly impacted thinks he will be able
to resurrect the program, so he runs for office.

During debates or while under intense questioning, a Charlie usually gets rattled easily. Anything
outside of his one-issue comfort zone can be very stressful. Many times you can identify a Charlie by
listening to how he phrases his responses to questions that are asked of him. Does he typically
answer with “I”…” or is he more inclusive by using “we” instead? Does he demonstrate knowledge of
multiple facets of the job he seeks or does every answer reflect back on his key pet peeve?

Whatever the issue, whatever the reason - a one-horse Charlie rides into town kicking up a cloud of
dust like the Lone Ranger on a mission to save the West. In most cases the electorate is smart
enough to see through the dust and send old Charlie back home. But what happens when a Charlie is
actually elected? Many times he ends up firing blanks.

Realizing that success in governing many times requires compromise can be difficult for the
ideologically pure. It's even more difficult for one-horse Charlie - who would rather trade in his Stetson
for a crown. As tough as it is to actually get elected to public office, it's even more difficult to govern
after you get there. Once elected, a single-issue candidate usually comes to the realization he can't
readily change the thing he ran to fix. At that point, he either broadens his horizons and works for the
common good on a host of issues - or he continues to beat that single-issue drum until the noise is
deafening and the public sends him packing.

Don't get me wrong - many times that one issue old Charlie is raising may be a valid one. Perhaps his
candidacy will bring attention to the matter and change will eventually be implemented whether he is
elected or not. However, single-issue politics can be messy and the public typically has a short
attention span.

You may have noticed I've used “he” in reference to one-horse Charlie. Don't feel left out gals, there are
female candidates out there who also fit the bill. I guess we should refer to them as one-horse
Charliettes?

In reality more females than males probably run for office due to single-issue motivations.

So, with Election Day rapidly approaching, here's a tip. If you suspect a candidate is a one-horse
Charlie, ask to see his six-shooter. If it only contains one bullet, then you know the person wearing the
white hat isn't who he says he is. If past elections are any indication, the voters this year will probably
buy a one-way ticket for old Charlie to “Got Beat Gulch”. Of course he'll have plenty of company when
he gets there.