Ep 25: COVID-19 AND CAMPAIGNING, PART 1: How The Pandemic Is Impacting This Year’s Election Process
Please note: This podcast is not highlighting political points or races. It is focusing on the actual campaign process during the COVID-19 pandemic.
How is the COVID-19 pandemic changing the way that political candidates campaign in a monumental election year? In this podcast, Sarina Fazan talks with first-time candidates Jen McDonald, who is running for Hillsborough County Commission District 1 against Harry Cohen, and John Schifino, who is running for Circuit Court Judge Group 9 against Kelly Ayers, about the challenges of running for office during these unprecedented times.
Some of the biggest changes on the campaign trail for candidates are the restrictions around meeting people face-to-face. With social distancing requirements in place and an emphasis on COVID safety, candidates must look at new ways to reach people in place of door-to-door visits and large campaign gatherings. As a way to connect with community members in real-time, candidates are putting more emphasis on social media and virtual meetings.
Jen says, “I found that connecting with people via this other media, using social media and really having these conversations and interviews, it became so powerful because I was reaching people that I would have never been able to shake hands with.”
But creating that connection is even harder for judicial candidates.
John explains, “There are judicial canons that apply and the particular one that governs us is Canon 7. We are in an apolitical race, and we can’t comment on anything that could be perceived as a political issue. We can’t comment on anything that might come before us if we’re lucky enough to be elected to the bench, which really almost anything can come before judgment. Really all we can do is try to communicate to the voters, this is who I am and this is who I’ve been over my career. Exactly what we can’t do is promise people what we’ll do, other than serve with integrity and humility.”
Unlike other races, this limits interaction that judicial candidates can have with voters and how they can respond to their questions.
Another hurdle candidates face is fundraising for their campaigns, with many constituents out of work or concerned about their family’s futures. Jen describes how her campaign pivoted from fundraising calls to wellness checks at the start of the COVID crisis.
Judicial candidates, on the other hand, can not personally solicit campaign contributions. In accordance with regulations, John’s campaign has established a committee to secure campaign funds. But all campaigns are trying to negotiate a delicate balance when asking for support.
John says, “People are strapped right now. There are challenges right now, and they are very real.”
For candidates, reaching out to voters in a compassionate and safe way is more important than ever. Without being able to go door-to-door to campaign and to make connections, direct mail is now playing a more critical role in a campaign’s communication efforts. But the costs of mailings can add up quickly for campaigns that are already cash strapped.
“We’re being very dedicated with how those little bits of resources that we do have get spent, reaching the folks who are going to make the decision in this election based on past history. It’s a lot of that very, very targeted understanding of exactly who you’re reaching out to and making sure you’re touching that door virtually,” Jen explains.
Candidates also are looking at how many people will be voting by mail this year – and how difficult it may be to get voters to the polls.
“I think that the coronavirus is going to have a suppressive effect on the vote. I think it’s going to be a modest turnout, particularly on election day. We think the mail in numbers are higher than they’ve ever been, which makes sense,” John states.
So, should there even be an election cycle right now?
Jen says, “Every election cycle there are challenges you could not predict, right? We’ve had election cycles where we’ve had hurricanes impact the state. We’ve had all different sorts of challenges impact us, and so this is just another challenge. I think the blessing of being a first-time candidate is, guess what, I don’t know anything else, so you just gotta evolve.”
And, has the situation with COVID continues to change, both candidates still encourage the public to trust the election officials who are working to keep them safe and to vote, whether by mail or at the polls.
About the Candidates:
Jen McDonald is commercial insurance agent and civic activist. She served on the Board of Directors for Historic Hyde Park Neighborhood Association, including serving as President in 2017. She is a member of the South Tampa Chamber of Commerce, where she recently completed a three-year term on the Board of Directors, and she is currently the Chairwoman of the Hillsborough Community College Business Advisory Committee. She was awarded the Suzie Steiner Community Impact award in 2017, which is given to the community leader who had the greatest impact for that year on the students in the Hillsborough Community College Entrepreneurship program. Jen is a member of the Early Entrepreneur Venture Fund’s Funding Committee, an ambassador for Working Women of Tampa Bay, and a member of the Junior League of Tampa. In 2019, she was appointed to the Hillsborough County Citizens Advisory Committee. Jen is a candidate for Hillsborough County Commission District 1 in the 2020 election.
A life-long Florida resident, John Schifino is a trial and appellate lawyer, experienced in handling diverse cases in the areas of business litigation, labor and employment law, and environmental law. John began his legal career in Hillsborough County 25 years ago and has earned a reputation as a hard-working attorney who quickly grasps complex legal issues and is committed to practicing law with civility and professionalism. In 2019, the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit presented John with its Professionalism Award in the Practice of Law, and in 2017, the Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers presented John with its Professionalism in the Practice of Law Award. In 2019, John completed his term as president of the Hillsborough County Bar Association, one of Florida's largest voluntary bar associations. In 2019 and in 2020, Florida Super Lawyers magazine recognized John as one of the top 100 lawyers in the state of Florida, and top 50 lawyers in Tampa. Committed to community service, John served on the board of directors for the PACE Center for Girls for nine years, including four years as president of the board. John regularly provides pro bono legal services at Metropolitan Ministries and participated in the Read to Dream Initiative at underserved schools in his community. He is currently a candidate for Circuit Court Judge Group 9.
For more discussions like this one, make sure to subscribe to the podcast On The Record With Sarina Fazan.