I’ll add that you should treat it like you’re hiring someone for a job.

Don’t hire personality over skill set.

Most elected positions need someone who is knowledgeable, informed, experienced at managing people, projects, and money, and whose goal is to make things better for more than just their own bank balances (at least for their constituents’ as well).

Most important: don’t vote for anyone who is too stupid, too selfish, or too corrupt to do the job, even if they have a letter next to their name you think you like. That sort of thinking doesn’t make you “loyal,” it makes you a schmuck.