>>>>>Why does it have to be an elected official?
>>>>
>>>>The article cited "liberal pols"
>>>>Politician connotes elected official to me.
>>>
>>>A politician does not need to be elected at all
>>
>>In general I agree.
>>In the context of this article, I interpreted it to refer to officeholders.
>
>I have no idea about foreign procedures, but you can hold an office in germany without been elected. (at least by the general electoral livestock, parliament must elect you to be part of the government)

That's interesting, Lutz.
I spent quite a bit of time in Bavaria with my late wife's family- she had dozens of cousins there.
Some were active in community government. We talked a lot about it. My German is bad and their English was worse so I never really understood how things worked over there.
Here, representatives don't appoint anyone.
Elected executives.. presidents, governors, mayors, etc, are elected and they appoint officials who run the government.
In some cases, the legislature can approve or disapprove of the appointed officials.