Who’s Really to Blame for Unheard Candidates?

In the lively political landscape of East Brunswick, it’s election season again, and the community is abuzz. This time, the controversy isn’t about the EB BOE candidates themselves, but about who’s hogging the spotlight. According to an anonymous poster on an East Brunswick forum, the four candidates who are consistently putting out content are overshadowing the other six. Yes, folks, it seems like the new scandal is that some candidates are actually gasp working harder than others to get their message out.

The Unfair Advantage of Actually Trying

“It’s really unfair that these four candidates are putting out so much content,” lamented ‘EqualOpportunityObserver,’ the anonymous poster. “I mean, sure, they’re passionate, they’re putting in the effort, and they’re using every tool available to reach the community. But what about the other six? Just because they’re not doing the same doesn’t mean they should be ignored!”

 

Yes, because in the age of smartphones and social media, it’s not like everyone has the same opportunity to create content. Oh, wait—they do! It’s almost as if the only thing stopping someone from putting out videos or posts is, well, the effort.

Quotes from the Campaign Trail

We reached out to a few of the quieter candidates to get their take on this grave injustice:

“I posted something on Facebook three weeks ago,” said a candidate who requested anonymity. “I’m just waiting for it to go viral. I don’t know why people aren’t responding to my once-a-month updates.”

Another candidate, who was spotted foraging through old newspapers for inspiration, complained: “I made a video, but I only posted it to MySpace. The community really needs to broaden their social media horizons.”

Meanwhile, a third candidate admitted: “Look, I tried to make a video, but I couldn’t find the right filter to make me look trustworthy. The struggle is real.”

Content Is for the Passionate, Apparently

The poster didn’t stop there. “It’s almost like these four candidates care more about the community learning who they are and what they stand for,” they wrote. “But what about the others? Just because they’re not as visible doesn’t mean they don’t deserve the same attention!”

Indeed, it seems like a candidate’s responsibility to actively engage with voters has become optional. Why bother when you can just blame those who are doing their job too well?

Everyone Has a Platform

Let’s be real: in this day and age, every candidate has the same platform. Whether it’s written posts, videos, live streams, or interpretive dance (hey, it’s a free country), everyone has access to a camera, a keyboard, and an audience. It’s not that some candidates aren’t being heard—it’s that they’re whispering in a room full of people with megaphones.

Even the local squirrels have managed to start their own Instagram page to advocate for more bird feeders, and they don’t even have opposable thumbs. So if a candidate’s voice isn’t being heard, maybe it’s time to trade in the carrier pigeon for a Wi-Fi connection and start creating some content.

Quotes from the Community

We reached out to a few residents to see how they felt about this content overload:

“I really miss the days when I had to guess what a candidate stood for based on their haircut,” said ‘NostalgicVoter92.’ “Now I’m expected to watch videos and read posts? What happened to the element of surprise?”

Another resident, ‘InformMeNot,’ chimed in: “If a candidate can’t be bothered to post a single TikTok dance explaining their policies, do they even deserve my vote?”

And finally, ‘EffortIsOverrated’ summed it up best:

“Everyone has a phone with a camera. If some candidates aren’t using it, that’s on them. But please, can we all just stop pretending that being passionate and engaged is a bad thing?”

The Bottom Line

At the end of the day, the democratic process is about giving everyone an equal opportunity—and yes, that includes the opportunity to be uninspired. If some candidates aren’t making the most of their platforms, it’s not the fault of those who are. So let’s stop complaining about the ones who are actually trying and start encouraging everyone to use their voice, even if it’s just to post a cat meme. Because in East Brunswick, every candidate deserves a fair shot… even if they’re only aiming for the bare minimum.