Garth Rattray | The advantage of incumbency

Some people have one political party triumphing over the other. Interestingly though, the incumbent government always has the advantage. As the currently elected government, the possessor of the ‘power’, those already occupying the contested position have the upper hand on several levels.

The concept of the advantage of incumbency occurred to me when I saw a video of a prominent minister of government being driven in an official [government] vehicle, smiling and waving while on a drive through his constituency … which qualifies as campaigning. I was told that the practice occurs on both sides of the isle. However, the picture of a politician on the campaign trail being driven in an official government-issued motor vehicle (blue lights flashing and all) elevates that individual to much more than just a politician seeking re-election. It projects a position of power and success. It gives an advantage to that politician over his challenger who is relegated to using a regular [civilian] motor vehicle with none of the trappings of position or power.

All things being equal, the challenger is automatically considered to be the underdog. Sometimes there is ‘anti-incumbency’ when voters turn against the current government in office. And, interestingly, most Jamaican voters appear to vote for a political party, rather than for the individual that represents that political party. Many people vote for the political party that can do more for them. Some might vote hoping for benefits to their community, or for the good of the country.

Several factors contribute to the advantage of being the incumbent in any election. Incumbents usually have significant financial advantage over their challengers. By virtue of their positions of power and popularity, they are able to command more donations, for [expensive] campaigning purposes, from wealthy individuals and organisations that want to be in their good books.

A more subtle, but far more powerful financial advantage to being the incumbent (who is already in power), is to have the country’s coffers at his/her disposal. It gives them the ability to do projects and label them as being done by their political party, instead of being done by ‘the government’. Citizens won’t see Permanent Secretaries, or regular public servants, who are in charge of completing important projects, breaking ground and/or cutting ribbons; they will always see prominent politicians who are often surrounded by their appropriately coloured retinue.

Come election time, incumbent politicians publicly recall, highlight, and reiterate the various projects that they accomplished while working on behalf of the people. They do this even if the projects were conceptualised, planned and initiated by the people who are currently the Opposition. Sometimes they even name the completed projects after revered individuals from their political party… indelibly stamping their brand on the edifice or roadway.

Incumbents are in total control of the political optics and the narrative for years. Because they are the people who form the administration, they get to have what they want people to see and hear easily publicised. They have innumerable opportunities to grow in popularity and to influence the thoughts of the electorate. On the other hand, the Opposition is often reactive and ends up being critical of whatever it can. Sometimes it offers alternatives, but its ultimate goal is to present itself as capable and worthy of forming the next government.

Although it is not necessarily the case, occupying the driver’s seat gives the voting public the image of seniority and experience. Anyone who is in charge of a ministry naturally has the advantage simply because that person is running a ministry. But most people do not realise that the backbone and brains behind ministries is often the Permanent Secretaries. The politicians are the ones who usually formulate policies and must go through the Permanent Secretaries to bring them to fruition.

GERRYMANDERING

Another interesting factor is the ability for the incumbent to participate in gerrymandering. But that aside, it is said that something interesting occurred in Jamaica’s past that most citizens failed to notice. Instead of moving borders, people were moved. A certain political party needed to have favourable representation from several high-end (upper-middle and upper-class) communities. Consequently, that political party, which was the incumbent at the time, allowed and encouraged their supporters to settle (squat) on lands that were proximal to the upper-middle and upper-class enclaves. Those duly registered constituents voted in their favour.

Incumbents benefit from being readily recognisable. They enjoy [free] media coverage for the duration of their time in power. They increase their profile by being present at several community and national events, including religious, sporting, and entertainment events. Being high profile can backfire if the incumbent has been or is accused of inefficiency, failure to perform adequately or embroiled in a scandal.

Although being the incumbent has its advantages, it is absolutely not an indication of victory at the polls. Because both political parties have so much in common, including being tainted by corruption and scandals at one time or the other, only their performance while in office separates them.

Listed among the factors that can cause incumbents to lose are voter dissatisfaction, socio-economic issues, active scandals, Opposition momentum, negative global events, leaders being out of touch with the electorate, and an influx of new voters (especially the young and/or disenfranchised).

At every election, some cynical (anti-incumbency) constituents vote for the challenger because they feel that the incumbent has spent enough time at the ‘trough’ and the other side deserves its turn to ‘feed’. September 3 should prove interesting.

Garth Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice, and author of ‘The Long and Short of Thick and Thin’. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and garthrattray@gmail.com.