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The underdog has ironically become a symbol of American grandeur. As a nation, we often take to hoisting the lovable misfits upon our shoulders, displaying them before the stadium of our doubts as proof that anything is possible. Even in the face of practicality, it’s hard to deny our hope that the victor will not be obvious.
But when it comes to the race for Orono’s District 19 State House of Representatives seat, the dark horse is hardly worth rooting for.
Republican Zachary Jackman, a fourth-year political science student at the University of Maine, seems to have all the makings of a perfect David in the biblical battle reinvented. Screenwriters couldn’t have written it any better — an undergraduate still wet behind the ears steps into the arena to combat a woman, incumbent State Rep. Emily Cain, who has been in Maine’s political scene for six years now.
On the big screen, the romantic notion of a kid making it to the State House could be a triumphant tale of success in youth, eventually standing in movie collections alongside the likes of “Rudy,” but as we all know, the movies hardly compare to reality. The truth is that Jackman lacks the uniqueness and selflessness to make his presence in the House one of benefit to the people he would represent.
Where Emily Cain has dedication to her community, speaking at events on the UMaine campus such as “Take Back the Night” and “Coming Out Week,” Jackman has commitment primarily to himself, using his campaign as a springboard to further his own future political aspirations.
A South Berwick native, Jackman’s only attachment within Orono is UMaine itself and he relies solely on his student status to garner him enough peer votes to typify the entire town, hardly fair to voters not immediately affiliated with the university.
After failing to win the student body presidential race last year, Jackman’s visibility in the university political forum hasn’t been particularly outstanding enough to qualify him for the next tier in diplomacy either. Simply put, Jackman’s underdog is without consideration for the universal hopes and dreams of the people — a David without a sling, a scorned boy with a selfish need to show all those in the “play government” the breadth of his abilities. In doing so, he comes across as utterly downtrodden.
Emily Cain, a UMaine alumnus, Honors College employee and doctoral student at the university since 2004, is, safely stated, a woman who knows her school and her town. Active in campus events and experienced in legislation, she redefines the role of Goliath, still endowed with overwhelming favor in strength, but possessing cleverness and a benevolence for her community.
It’s easy to see why Jackman would want to promote his political career; any young person vying for their future would do the same. We ask voters not to let the charade go on any further than it should though and the glamour of the underdog sway them away from true leadership.
So, tell Jackman to hit the road and vote Cain on Nov. 2 and let the experienced player with a mind for the public continue to work for change.
