Viewing the past as a predictor, we simply need to look at some of the people we have elected to review our own track record. We may have bought in to the sound bites and bumper stickers. Some equate leadership with how loud they can be against something and call it a success. Now, we have local candidates running on issues such as the environment, safe neighborhoods, revitalizing downtown, civil rights, and involving neighborhood residents in decisions that affect their lives. Some talk in sound bites on where they stand on issues without any details and never say how to get things done. This seems true especially when it comes to the Salt Lake west-side neighborhoods. Some play loose with facts.

As we go to vote tomorrow, we ought to do it on the basis of how candidates have conducted themselves in the past, the values they have lived, not talked, and what they have done to promote the public good, rather than the rhetoric in their speeches. While issues and problems will change, the important thing to look for is how well candidates have made decisions based on the principles they have lived, not talked about.

Maybe a good question to ask ourselves as we decide who will lead us is: Does this person represent the values we would want our children to pass on to their children? Like it or not, and whether we vote or not, our leaders do reflect who we are. Tomorrow, we are telling the world about our values.

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Utah native John Florez has founded several Hispanic civil rights organizations and has served on the staff of Sen. Orrin Hatch and on more than 45 state, local and volunteer boards. He also has been deputy assistant secretary of labor. E-mail: jdflorez@comcast.net