GlobalErie reader Mike raised an interesting question last week in response to one of the threads regarding Rick Schenker’s candidacy for Lieutenant Governor.

“I guess my question is what kind of candidate would people in Erie not gripe about?,” he asked. “The ’same old group’ gets criticized, Schenker gets criticized, Filippi and Sinnott have both been hammered, and then when a group like YEP forms they get hammered too. I’m guilty myself of being fed up with some of the crooked politicians, but sometimes I think people in Erie aren’t happy unless they are unhappy.”

I’m not completely sure this is something that is unique to Erie. Nor is it necessarily a bad thing. Politicians deserve a fair amount of scrutiny and criticism. And, let’s face it, there will always be naysayers from the opposite party, no matter which side of the aisle you fall on.

Without scrutiny, we run the risk of having elected officials who unfairly believe that they can say or do anything. We need checks and balances to make sure they are doing their best to represent their constituents and to do so fairly and ethically.

But I’m open to the idea that Erieites are more likely than those in other areas to eat their own.

So let me ask some questions.

First, do you recall a politician from Erie who has been almost universally respected and admired?

Second, do you think there are any people in the Erie community who would get a fair shake from the voting public if they decided to run for office?

I’d love to hear thoughts on this.