Misguided Fixation

Election season brings out a curious phenomenon among our esteemed voters.

The spotlight is on the mayoral and congressional contests, where candidates vie for our attention, make grand promises, and engage in public drama.

It is for this reason that voters love a good mayoral showdown. Perhaps it’s because the mayor is the one who gets to cut ribbons, hand out plaques, and smile for the cameras. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a well-staged photo op? But when it comes to the vice mayor and the city council—the very people who craft and approve the laws that the mayor will implement—many voters seem to zone out.

Ask an average voter about their choice for mayor, and you’ll get a well-reasoned answer, complete with all the aspirations they have for the city. But ask about the vice mayor or councilor, and you might be met with a blank stare or a hasty, “Oh, I’m just voting straight.” It’s a fascinating exercise in selective interest, as if city laws and budgets get passed by sheer force of will from the mayor alone.

Spoiler alert: they don’t.

The vice mayor isn’t just some ceremonial figure, sitting idly by during sessions. This official presides over the city council, ensuring that the crafting and approval of ordinances follow parliamentary rules and align with the needs of the people.

It’s the council that decides whether that shiny new infrastructure project gets the green light or if the annual budget prioritizes health, education, or another city landmark no one asked for. If voters truly want to affect change, it’s not just the executive seats they should be scrutinizing.

Imagine this: the mayor proposes a grandiose project, let’s say a futuristic tram system for Iloilo City. Sounds great, right? But without the city council’s approval, that dream turns to dust. Councilors can support or thwart initiatives depending on their alignment (or lack thereof) with the mayor’s vision. The power to say “yes” or “no” to city projects and allocations rests with the legislative body. It’s like having a mayor with a Ferrari but no fuel unless the council gives the budgetary go-ahead.

Yet, many voters sleepwalk through the selection process for these local lawmakers, as if their choices here don’t matter. The vice mayoral race? It’s like the last item on the buffet when the stomach is already full. But what voters don’t realize is that the vice mayor is essentially the city’s second-in-command, ready to step in when the mayor can’t. More than that, the vice mayor has sway over local policy, facilitating discussions, and, let’s face it, often deciding which agenda items actually get air time.

What makes this voter behavior even weirder is that the city council holds the power of the purse. The council approves the budget, and we all know that money talks. If voters want their taxes spent wisely, or at the very least, where they hope it will go, they should be meticulously vetting their councilor candidates. The wrong mix of councilors could either block progress or rubber-stamp questionable projects, all while the voters’ attention is fixated on the flashy mayoral race.

Let’s not even start on the interaction between the city council and the congressman or congresswoman. While the congressional seat gets all the fanfare, the fact remains that local ordinances and legislative actions often need to align with national projects and budgets. A well-coordinated council can ensure the city gets its fair share of national development funds. On the other hand, a council more interested in personal interests can sabotage opportunities for the entire city.

So, why is this important? Because by focusing solely on the high-profile mayoral and congressional contests, voters are, in effect, choosing only part of the team that will govern them. Worse, they’re surrendering the checks and balances necessary to keep that governance accountable. The mayor may wear the crown, but the council holds the keys to the kingdom. Fail to elect a competent council, and you could end up with a local government that resembles a feudal hacienda, where one personality or family calls the shots without any resistance.

If true change is the goal, it’s high time voters realized that the city council isn’t just an afterthought, like the side dish you didn’t order but ended up with anyway. A city’s success depends as much on the people drafting laws as on the person tasked with enforcing them. In fact, a strong, diverse council could be the difference between a mayor who works for the people and a mayor who only works for themselves.

Maybe it’s time we put down the popcorn and start paying attention to the candidates who could actually make a difference in our daily lives. Because, in the end, the real contest isn’t just for the mayoral seat—it’s for the balance of power in the entire city.

So, next election season, let’s give the vice mayor and councilors the attention they deserve. Because a mayor can’t run a city alone—no matter how loudly they shout their slogans. And if you’re tired of living in a city run by dynasties or personalities, the answer isn’t just in the mayoral seat; it’s in the legislative hall.