The clock is ticking for municipal election 2010. Deadline for submitting nomination papers is Sept. 10 – only a few short weeks to go.
The election promises to be a contentious one in many communities, including here in Stratford, where as of Tuesday morning there were now five candidates – including the current reeve of Perth South – for our city’s 10 spots on council. Clearly, gone are the days when municipal council was made up of people whose wealth and status gave them the right to make decisions for their communities, and elections were often little more than a formality.
Municipal council has become much more than a right or reward. For some, it is a stepping stone to a career in politics, a way of testing the waters and gaining experience before making a full commitment at the provincial or federal level, while for others, serving on municipal council is a way of giving back to the community. Some run because they have ideas and skills to share, some because they get talked into it by well-meaning friends, and some because they get so angry about they way a specific issue has been handled that they decide to put their money where their mouth is.
Many are seeking a third, fourth – or even more – term on council because they feel now that they know the ropes, not to mention the issues, they need to stay on to make sure the job gets done right. Whatever their reasons, they are in for an exciting couple of months of campaigning. They will meet people from many walks of life and will learn an amazing amount of information about this community and the people who live in it. In an odd way, this makes every candidate in the coming election a winner, although only a few will actually serve in office.
We, the voters, are also in for an exciting couple of months. When faced with several of our fellow citizens who want to represent us on council for the next four years, the least we can do is find out who they are, why they are running for office, and what their stand is on issues that are important to us.
And the issues are important. The federal government may declare war on a foreign power, while its municipal counterparts declare war on giant hogweed; the provincial government may determine the direction of such crucial issues as education and health care while municipalities are limited to recreation and roads. But municipal governments are the ones that determine the quality of life, and to a large extent the viability, of the communities in which we live and do business.
If we care about whether this community has good roads, reasonable taxes, recreational opportunities and what it takes to not only keep existing residents and businesses here but attract new growth, we need to play an active role in municipal election 2010. Very few of us have what it takes to run for office, but we can all make sure we have what it takes to make a wise decision when we vote.
–Wingham Advance Times
