Assess 2020 candidates on their competency

Over the past two presidential campaigns, I observed our selection of a president mimics the process of electing a high school class president. It's more an exercise of assessing popularity, looks, showmanship, bluster, and drama production, rather than an actual examination of the candidate's competency and fitness.

Now that we are blessed with the emergence of presidential candidates for the 2020 campaign, it would be an excellent time to develop a list of core competencies.

Therefore, I offer the following minimum list:

1) An accomplished lead executive for a principal governmental entity.

2) Possesses an understanding of geopolitics and related challenges.

3) Demonstrated ability to draw in expertise from a broad spectrum of viewpoints to inform decision-making.

4) Skilled in resolving conflict.

5) Conveys a cogent vision for addressing America's domestic and international challenges.

6) Possesses demonstrated leadership in complex organizational systems.

7) Can accurately express familiarity with the Constitution and its obligations, especially concerning the Oath of Office.

I, for one, look forward to the various candidates enriching our understanding of their expertise in domestic and international affairs, and to illuminate their satisfaction of the criteria listed above. However, I fear that without some sense of competencies from which to evaluate the candidates, we will endure nothing but a combative barrage of personal assaults and ill-formed policy positions, resulting in two fundamentally flawed candidates being presented to the electorate.

Grant Harper

Marion