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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be incensed at being asked to rustle up votes on his say-so

16 replies

Saracen · 13/10/2020 00:06

I'm an officer of a city club for my hobby. We are affiliated to a county organisation, where I am also an officer. Then there is a national organisation. The national organisation is rumoured to be rife with political dirty dealings, but I don't know anything about that. I've never bothered to take an interest in how the national organisation is run. While I'm eager to promote my hobby locally, I can't be doing with politics!

The national organisation is about to have its AGM and elect officers. John, our county's representative to the national organisation, has just emailed officers of the local city clubs. He says he is sure that Candidate A is the right person for the job, and has asked us most politely if we would be willing to suggest to our members that they cast their votes for Candidate A.

All well and good, I suppose. He knows the candidates and the qualities required for the job; we don't. The trouble is, he has offered no rationale at all for why Candidate A deserves our vote. Not a single line. Just "ask your members to vote for him".

I'm not sure why this has me quite so wound up. Maybe it's because John - whom I don't know well - strikes me as the type who'd have access to an old boys' network. I'm imagining Candidate A as John's crony, to whom he says, "Don't worry, I'll get the people in my county to vote for you." It strikes me as downright arrogant to ask people to vote in a certain way without making any pretence of providing them with information to decide for themselves.

My first inclination is to write straight back asking him to explain why he supports Candidate A. He'd probably come back with a sentence or two, which wouldn't convince me, and I still wouldn't be inclined to forward his request to my club's members. But I am wondering whether to send him a more robust email instead. I rather feel he is abusing his position.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Purplewithred · 13/10/2020 00:16

If you have a vote isn’t there some kind of submission from each of the candidates putting forward their case for election?

I’d be quite shocked if I got that email - a polite version of “fuck off, I’ll vote for who I want and most certainly won’t seek to influence anyone else either” would be winging its way back to him.

FizzyGreenWater · 13/10/2020 00:21

I’d be so tempted to email back ‘What you mean THAT Candidate A? The scandal guy? OMG really?!’ then backtrack completely when he asks. ‘Oh I shouldn’t have said anything. Forget about it’

😂

Saracen · 13/10/2020 00:21

Yes, the candidates all have a statement on the website. John provided a link to the statement of the candidate he supports. But he didn't say why he supports that candidate.

OP posts:
Saracen · 13/10/2020 00:22

LOL Fizzy that is tempting!

OP posts:
PigletJohn · 13/10/2020 00:34

or you might say "I don't know that candidate. Why do you believe that he is the best one to represent my interests?"

justilou1 · 13/10/2020 00:48

Or I don’t think that is part of my job description. Thanks.

Eckhart · 13/10/2020 00:53

Presumably he credits you with the intelligence to decide for yourself whether or not to recommend the candidate he suggests, and to act accordingly.

If you don't like it, don't do it. It would be different if he was pressuring you, but he isn't.

Elsewyre · 13/10/2020 03:19

Maybe with you being an officer at local and cou ty level he expects you to be able to do your own research?

Elsewyre · 13/10/2020 03:21

@Saracen

Yes, the candidates all have a statement on the website. John provided a link to the statement of the candidate he supports. But he didn't say why he supports that candidate.
Well that changes the OP a bot doesnt he.

The link is the reason why

Florencex · 13/10/2020 06:28

@Saracen

Yes, the candidates all have a statement on the website. John provided a link to the statement of the candidate he supports. But he didn't say why he supports that candidate.
He has sent you a link to the candidates statements, statement explains why he would choose that candidate. He is inviting you to take a look, he is not forcing you to do anything. You are making a mountain out of a molehill.
Saracen · 13/10/2020 07:05

"He has sent you a link to the candidates statements, statement explains why he would choose that candidate." Does it though? On the face of it the opposing candidate's statement looks at least as persuasive. Opposing candidate has more relevant experience. Platforms are similar. John hasn't highlighted WHY he finds one candidate's candidate's rhetoric more persuasive than the other's.

OP posts:
Eckhart · 13/10/2020 17:04

He's not asking you to do it for his reasons as a favour to him, he's asking you to do it because you think it's the right thing to do. Read the candidate's statement, and decide whether you want to recommend them.

It's like when someone offers to sell you raffle tickets to raise money for a charity. You decide whether you want to support the charity and buy tickets accordingly. You don't get incensed because they're trying to push you to support the same charity they support. You just say no if you don't like it.

merryhouse · 13/10/2020 17:14

I think you should ask him. "Given that the other candidate has a more experienced profile, what makes you consider that A would be better for the post?"

Then after the election, you could perhaps tactfully suggest to John that next time he comes up with the reasons without being prompted, in order to prevent people thinking he's just indulging in a bit of cronyism...

Nottherealslimshady · 13/10/2020 17:14

I'd definitely ask why. Especially as he seems to be the less qualified candidate.

DynamoKev · 13/10/2020 17:18

Another mystery hobby.

artisticpiles · 13/10/2020 17:25

Speaking as someone who is currently on a county committee of a national organisation, nobody should be directly attempting to influence the vote in the way that John is proposing. All the voters should be given access to the relevant information about each candidate, and be allowed to make their own minds up.

You could always print off the email, delete anything that identifies you, and send it anonymously to the chair of the national body.

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