Candidate Accountability Rubric (Non-Partisan)

When reviewing candidates for office, consider these observed behaviors to help form your opinion.

This is especially powerful if published before endorsements.

Strengths:

Ask yourself – does (or will) your preferred candidate:

– Explain votes clearly and publicly

– Support local control over centralized authority

– Demonstrate respect for constitutional limits

– Vote consistently with stated principles

– Engage respectfully with dissenting views

– Support transparency and accountability

– Prioritize local impact over national talking points

– Willing to cross party expectations when justified

How to Judge a Local Voting Issue Without Party Labels

– What problem does the bill or proposal address?

– Does it expand or limit government power?

– Who decides—local officials or distant authorities?

– Does it respect constitutional boundaries?

– How is it funded and who bears the cost?

– Is accountability clear and enforceable?

– Would you support this policy regardless of who introduced it?