Our great city of Newton, MA is in the middle of election time, and on November 7, we will elect a new mayor between Scott Lennon and Ruth Ann Fuller. I like to educate myself on the candidates and these two candidates have many similar ideas and visions for the city. Due to Naomi's dance team, I have been to many of the local fairs, and have spoken to both sides in order to make the best decision.
Fast forward to today, when Scott Lennon has taken out an ad that includes "I am the only candidate who has consistently held a full time job for the last twenty years."
Ouch.
Let
That
Sit
For
A
Moment
Twenty years ago, who traditionally was the stay at home parent? (I like to think that is changing and more fathers are choosing that path, but in reality 20 years ago it was the female who stayed home.)
I feel that both of these candidates are well qualified, however I am supposed to cast my vote because he didn't take time off to raise his kids full time? I do not know anything about Lennon's family, but did his wife take time off, and if she were to return to the work force and interview, would the hiring manager not hire her because she took time off to raise kids? Did Lennon's wife's career take a back seat to his while their kids were young? Did she work? How does she feel about this statement?
And it isn't like his opponent isn't a good opponent. She has served as Vice Chair of the Newton Citizen Advisory Group, in addition to co-chairing the town of Brookline's Financial Planning Advisory Committee. She spent 8 years at WGBH. And if some of this is volunteer work, it is still good experience. She has experience planning and strategizing.
And if a stay at home parent (male or female) returns to the work force, and tried to interview for a job with Lennon, would Lennon disregard any stay at home parent just because that person hasn't held a full time job?
President Trump doesn't value women in higher office. His trusted advisors are mostly white males. (Mostly - not all). He has been accused of sexual harassment and views women as inferior. I don't need another elected official to tell me that women don't have experience or intelligence. This one sentence smells of Trump. I know Lennon doesn't mean it that way, but as a female, that is how I am reading the one sentence.
I am uncomfortable using my one vote for Lennon. He is telling stay at home parents that they don't add value. They are very valuable. Everyone has a different view point, and just because he has held a full time job for 20 years doesn't earn my vote. In fact, he has lost my vote. I am very aware of the glass ceiling, especially in higher levels (executive boards, C level, venture capital, finance, investments), and I am concerned that he is going to discount future employees because they were not fortunate enough to have the same 20 year experience as he did.
I really wish that someone earned my vote, instead of losing it, but Mr. Lennon, you lost my vote, because that statement hurts stay at home parents.
