The 2014 election season is now in full swing. But a word of caution. Don’t believe everything you read and don’t believe everything you hear from rumor mongers who run from political event to political event trying to create turmoil and bolster the candidates they are supporting. We do have those political wannabes who want people to believe they are important and knowledgeable.

For the most part, the mainstream media tries to be objective in its reporting, but often times you can read between the lines and get a hint who the newspapers and television and radio stations are supporting. This is particularly true with radio talk shows locally and statewide where the talking heads are downright rude, vitriolic, misinformed and present falsehoods as truths about certain candidates. Add some political columnists to that list.

Then there are the websites and blogs. It is usually pretty easy to see where they are coming from politically. So don’t take everything they publish as being factual. Do your homework. Look at a candidate’s record and his or her qualifications and who is advising them, which means who will likely be calling the shots for them if elected.

A good example here is that some campaign operatives for mayoral candidate Patrick Williams are saying that if Ollie Tyler is elected, it will be a third term for Mayor Cedric Glover because they believe she is the Glover-backed candidate. But at the same time, the Williams camp has top advisers who were part of the administration of former Mayor Keith Hightower. So does that mean if Williams is elected, it will be a third term for Hightower? It shows just how ridiculous some power wannabes can be in trying to promote a candidate. It can get downright highschoolish.

A good way to get a feel for candidates is to attend one or more of the several political forums being held by business and civic groups and neighborhood associations. You can get to see the candidates in person, but you won’t always learn a lot from the questions asked. Forums so far seem to avoid the tough questions.

An example here is the recent mayoral forum held by the North Shreveport Business Association. Only two candidates – Tyler and Williams – participated. What was the point?

All candidates were available on that day. There had been a scheduling conflict. The Media Lunch Bunch had scheduled a forum for that day and had confirmation from four candidates – Williams, Anna Marie Arpino, Sam Jenkins and Victoria Provenza.

Here is where it gets crazy. Debbie Martin of NSBA decided it was the only day her organization met for the month and wanted to do a mayoral forum. She got Tyler on board. Then Williams reneged on his commitment and decided to go to NSBA’s event. In the end the Media Lunch Bunch released its confirmed candidates, feeling it made no sense to have a partial forum. Even though they were released a week before NSBA’s event, they were still not allowed to participate, but could sit in the audience. Couldn’t they find three more chairs for the candidates?

So the news media was told that Arpino, Jenkins and Provenza were not participating because of a scheduling conflict. The conflict had been resolved. One station said they were told the candidates refused to take part in the forum. Another local radio show said the candidates were released from the Media Lunch Bunch at the last minute. Again, not true. The truth is they were available but were denied that opportunity. So what if the program had already been printed? Just say we are fortunate to be able to include all the candidates and move on. I know that the Williams campaign even had the questions in advance; don’t know about Tyler. Definitely not a way to run a political forum. From the feedback I have received, the NSBA’s objectivity and credibility took a big hit on its phony forum.

Then there were the supporters of Williams who apparently encouraged him to renege on his commitment to the Media Lunch Bunch because it meets in Bossier City. Never mind that media reps from around northwest Louisiana usually show up – and the public would be invited. So Williams complied with his so-called brain trust. I guess that means if Williams is elected mayor, he will not be allowed to cross the river. Not very good thinking on his campaign’s part.

In my nearly five decades of being in the political arena, I have been involved in at least 28 campaigns. But I don’t recall ever seeing one as petty and mean-spirited as some of the races taking place at the state and local levels. The false political ads, supporters of a candidate trying to dig up dirt on opponents, and those in power trying to make sure that stay that way by intimidating people to vote for their chosen one.

For those of you who can still stand the stench of local politics and plan to vote, examine the candidates and the people surrounding them very carefully. Remember, some of these candidates and advisers contributed to the mess we’re in.