I applaud OP for making an effort to get involved locally but can sympathize with their struggles. Local government elections typically have a more new candidates that don’t have a track record of experience to go back on. Additionally, there are a handful of boilerplate campaign promises that you’ll see over and over again (smart spending, lower taxes, etc). I’ve personally found some success with the following approaches:

1. Even if you don’t get a ton of info from the candidate themselves, it’s still worth it looking at their website and seeing what they choose to make the centerpiece of their campaign.

2. Look up your local Democratic and Republican Party websites and see who they endorse. Often, even if a candidate is unaffiliated, the local political parties will have some insight as to who THEY would prefer. That tells you something too.

3. Try to attend local government events. You’ll learn a TON by attending a city council or school board meeting. In my local area, I’ve seen representatives half asleep or reading newspapers during discussions. At the very least, look at who takes the position seriously. Additionally, try to see who is asking smart questions, and conveys that they understand the subject matters well.

I think we should be encouraging more people for get involved locally. That’s how grassroots efforts turn into more options nationally.