The mood in civic politics in Yorkton appears to be one of unease.
At the very least there is increased interest in being part of the process as a record number of candidates have put their names forward for the Oct. 26 vote; four vying for Mayor and 24 for the six positions of Councillor.
The high numbers might be simply a case of a growing interest in being part of the process of setting the future direction of the city, but that would likely understate the situation.
With 28 people running, 22 of those new to the process, it seems rather clear there is a level of unrest with the status quo.
The status quo in Yorkton has been a very veteran Council roster. Two of the sitting Councillors; current mayoral candidate Chris Wyatt, and James Wilson seeking to retain his spot as Councillor, have formally held the position of Mayor in the city.
Randy Goulden has made an unsuccessful run at mayor as well.
And all seven of the current members of Council have near a decade in Chambers, most more.
The long list of candidates suggests there is a sense it is a time for at least some new blood at the table. It is something that is hard to disagree with based simply on the prospect of new people bringing new ways of looking at long standing issues. The more ideas that are put forward, the better the chance for solutions that are cost-effective and work well.
That is not to suggest the current roster has done anything glaringly wrong, but it’s not likely they will have startlingly new ideas after so long at the table with the opportunity to offer up their best thoughts on how to take the city into the future.
But the onus now switches to the voter to study the candidate list and to learn what each stands for. What key things do the best of them bring to the table which can help the city deal with the challenges of economic slowdown, aging infrastructure, and growing operational costs in the next four years.
What candidates offer substance of vision, and not merely the rhetoric of change for the sake of change?
Ultimately, a blended Council serves Yorkton best, the sage voice of some veterans, there to guide the process of running a multi-million dollar enterprise, along with the exuberance of a few newcomers, with fresh ideas to old problems.
Each voter now has nearly a month to study what the many candidates have to say, seeking those who best reflect the direction they want to see the city move. That may be a full slate, but voters are reminded they can vote for anywhere from one to six for Councillor.
And, of course that is the most important step yet to be taken. Residents need to vote. If the record number of candidates draw record numbers of voters to the polls with a common mindset to elect the best Council possible, then the real winner will be our City’s future.
