What do we look for in a candidate who will govern us in a trusted position of authority?

Most of us could agree that we look for someone who supports our communities and is fair-minded as well as trustworthy.

There is a candidate chosen by the Republicans who stated that he is “trying to pay as little as possible” in taxes. His delegates should have good reasons to not support him at their convention and the rules committee should be looking into the transgressions that he has made.

He refuses to reveal his tax returns, which is the sort of financial disclosure that could reveal associations with foreign entities, criminal organization and conflicts of interest.

Our country has been in this position before, of conflict and unrest, with nothing certain on the national front.

With voting restricted so that people have unequal access to casting their ballot in 20 states, anything is possible for an outcome.

In 1968 George Wallace also promised destruction of all enemies and scapegoated minorities during a time of insecurity.

During that election, we lost Martin Luther King as well as Robert Kennedy. We ended up with Richard Nixon.

During such unstable times as these, simply stating “Trust me, it will be great,” is far from reassuring.

That statement has been frequently repeated by this candidate and is nauseating. People who have worked with him have been left with a lasting impression of being mistreated and preyed upon for any insecurity they may have.

Far from being a leader, he is often seen as crushing the human spirit. Promising the destruction of all of our enemies is not a unifying theme and is not practical. We do not need a repeat of the disasters of 1968 that were visited on us then.

I am not advocating any one candidate, but voters need to be informed. We don’t live in times exactly the same as 1968, but we need an honest leader no matter what times we live in.

Ellen Karnowski lives in Kelseyville, Calif.