Over the last few election cycles there has been a disturbing trend that continues to get worse — television advertising. In the last presidential election, I was positive they couldn’t get any worse. I was wrong.

This election cycle’s advertising in almost every race is nothing short of disgusting, annoying and mostly untrue. Ad after ad solely focused on getting one party to win over the other shows how tone-deaf candidates and those running their campaigns have become.

It’s clear the Democrats are working to use this year’s Supreme Court ruling against abortion as a cornerstone issue to maintain control at the state level and in Washington. The problem is these ads are so poorly constructed, so annoyingly condescending that you forget about the positions they are taking and roll your eyes in disgust.

Some ads feature “seemingly” everyday citizens taking the “we’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore” approach. The problem is, if they are actors — they are terrible. If they are not actors — they need a lot more coaching before the cameras go live.

Another layer of annoying this year is the mom card. Candidates saying they are moms so they should be elected. While I agree moms are great managers, organizers and work hard — that doesn’t mean I am going to elect them solely on their mom status to pass and enforce laws.

I respect and love moms. I am a mom. However, qualifications to hold office should be based on a lot more than whether or not you are raising children. While I understand this tactic is aimed at middle-class moms — it is a ridiculous plan.

That leads me to another annoyance emerging as an election trend. That is the candidates who are choosing to run. I have been shocked a lot this election cycle with the fact that many of this year’s candidates in various races have few, if any, qualifications.

Some candidates seem to be running because it sounds good. Based on answers to questions and actions, it almost seems like they are taking a “what the heck” approach.

Whether it is a town council member, county coroner or state seat — holding office should be considered a privilege and the level of responsibility and integrity that comes with it should be respected. Holding office should not be about getting the other party voted out or because it’s become pretty easy to run.

After being elected, the work has to be done and citizens rely on every level of government to function.

Moving back into the exhausting television ads — the other issue that is getting worse is the fear factor messaging.

The doom and gloom messaging that if a candidate is elected the world could end, taxes will reach the highest they ever had, children will never be educated correctly again or all our civil rights will be abolished the day after the election is ridiculous.

I would like to see more ads with solutions, actual positions and messaging on each particular candidate. Tell us what you think can be done to help the economy. When we are spending hundreds of dollars on one or two bags of groceries at the store — we do not want to see your attack commercials.

When gasoline prices are skyrocketing, housing in Colorado may never be affordable again, homeless rates are rising and crime rates continue to be alarming — we do not need attack ads.

I would love to see candidates get back to civility, respect and the understanding that the work they are doing matters and schoolyard, childish behavior is just noise we no longer want or need to hear.

Thelma Grimes is the south metro editor for Colorado Community Media.