Someone needs to tell him he lost

Happy Monday! We start this week with a little gripe.

You know what drives me crazy? Politicians who think they own the job, and are offended when voters decide otherwise.

These are the people who campaign as if they’re doing us a favor by running for office. 

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Candidates who want their campaigns to fit into nice, shiny boxes are the ones most shocked when voters go in a different direction.

But even with the arrogance of campaigning, there’s always been a somewhat unwritten rule. Call it the basics of engagement.

And it’s this: If you lose, be human about it.

Janet Barek told me that Commissioner Ruthie Davis Schlabach called her within moments of the final primary results to congratulate her on the win. That was a very difficult call for Ruthie, as it would be for any candidate who comes up short in a close race.

It’s how we govern. It’s supposed to be how we behave.

After all, candidates have just spent the last several months going door-to-door and speaking to community groups. Candidates always tell me how honored they are to receive campaign contributions and votes.

So, here’s to all the candidates who give it their best but still show dignity and class if their opponent wins.

Of course, one name is off that list. Are we surprised?

There are numerous whispers throughout the community that Sheriff Mike Prendergast is not taking his lopsided primary loss to Dave Vincent very well. He participated in an official function the other day but has otherwise somewhat disappeared from public view.

He’s allowed some grace. Politicians are people too, and when they lose a hard-fought campaign, a little cave dwelling is expected.

But very little. Especially when you’re the incumbent and the job is to oversee the agency tasked with keeping us safe. You don’t get much poor, poor pitiful me time. Save that for January, when you’re no longer on the county clock.

In this case it's worse than simply an incumbent pouting after a loss.

County commissioners the other day said out loud about Prendergast what many have been hearing: He’s wrapping new sheriff’s vehicles with his name, even though another sheriff will have the job in January; he’s supposedly giving promotions to friends to boost their pay and/or lead to a heftier retirement payday; a general feeling that Prendergast isn't taking the taxpayer's best interest at heart following his defeat.

County commissioners think there’s a ring of truth to the accusations because they will hold off the sheriff's office budget increase, planned to start Oct. 1, until Vincent takes office in January. That's a bold move on the board's part and one not taken lightly.

What can be done about it? Nothing that I know of. State law says the sheriff has autonomy over budget. If Prendergast decides to spend his final months in office buying Pez dispensers for everyone, that’s his right.

However, this is September. The final month of the fiscal year. At the very least, I hope someone in the county government is paying attention. The county can’t stop Prendergast from wasting our money before he heads out the door, but we certainly should track it.

His behavior…wow. Somewhat offensive.

The community embraced Prendergast, a relative newcomer to Citrus County, enough to elect him twice as our chief law enforcement officer. When voters decided this year to bring in someone else, Prendergast responded poorly.

As with everything else Prendergast has done the last two years, this behavior is baffling. He’s giving Vincent the cold shoulder, putting the brakes on what should be a professional transition. According to commissioners, he’s spending money like it fell out of the sky. 

And not one time — I checked his campaign Facebook page before posting — did he publicly thank the folks who voted for him. Does he even care so little about them?

It reminds me of something I often tell elected folks that never goes over well: This isn’t your job. Whatever elected position you have, it’s not your identity. Prendergast is merely holding the position until his successor comes along. The same will be true for Vincent.

The ones who understand this are successful in office and with the public. They are servants first and politicians second.

Someone might mention this to Mike Prendergast. He’ll be a civilian soon, like the rest of us. 

Never too late to start on good citizenship.

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