Bruce Dotson
“It depends on the crimes that were committed. Are they a career criminals? What age did they commit the crime, and how was their upbringing? Were they stealing from the grocery store to feed their family? But overall, no it depends on the crime that was committed. If someone was convicted with a murder charge or any financial crime they should not be allowed to run for office because they will be dealing with finances within the party.”
Leilani Bruce
“I believe that people with criminal backgrounds should be allowed to run for office because everyone has a past, and if someone chooses to take their past experiences and channel them into something better, then they should be given and granted the opportunity to do so. Someone with a criminal background may also be better at relating to the public and can set a good example for the community, showing that past experiences can turn into positive ones. Overall, there needs to be rules depending on the crime.”
Jay Doyal
“Yes, I believe people can turn their lives around and do good for society. However, we need to have parameters in place for qualifications, like a repeat offender versus a one-time offender.”
Ann
“I think we should give them a chance. People change, and I think you should allow people to change. You never know what people go through during that time in the past. If they are free, they are free for a reason, and they want to make a change in the world or voice their opinion; their opinion matters, they are human. Hear them out, give them a chance because you never know what is going to happen. Look at the former president and the things that are going on now.”
Tom Wallace
“Do I think people with a criminal background should be allowed to run for elected office? No, I don’t think so. I have lived in Seattle for forty years now, and I have seen a lot of people with criminal backgrounds; they can be dangerous and irresponsible. I just think a person that is in an elected position should be someone that is very responsible, and not have any kind of criminal background.”
Saadiya
“I think the way that the criminal system is right now, people who have been convicted of crimes that they have committed, and it is stuck to their background, it isn’t fair for those people to not be able to run for those political positions. But also, even if you do have a criminal background, that shouldn’t necessarily stick with you for the rest of your life. People change all the time, and something that you might have done in your past, or you were a teenager, or your circumstances placed you in that position, shouldn’t affect who you are in the present or future, because people change.”