A civic election which attracts 24 candidates for six positions on Council certainly shows interest in our community’s future.
It takes courage to let your name stand for public office, and in this case 18 of those running will go to bed the night of Oct. 26, knowing they have lost. Such a loss will sting, but it is important as a community we say a collective thanks to each person running, for caring enough to have a vision of the city they were willing to share through the election process.
But the long list of candidates has also created something of a conundrum for voters in the sense of how best to determine which candidates to vote for.
Even groups providing forums for candidates to share their views at have been challenged.
The Yorkton Chamber of Commerce has traditionally hosted all-candidate forums with a focus on the candidates answering questions of particular interest to the business community.
This year the Chamber set up 24 tables with the idea those in attendance could rotate through the room listening to candidates stationed at each table as they answers questions such as; It is the Chamber’s understanding that under the current tax structure, the commercial sector pays significantly more in taxes than similarly assessed residential properties. Do you consider this fair? Please explain your answer and what, if anything, could be done differently.
The Chamber had eight questions set to be asked, but with 24 candidates talking, and 150 people circulating, the concept slipped into just an opportunity to talk to those running in a single location – which of course was still a positive situation provided via the Chamber.
A trio of groups; SIGN, Kids First and Saskatchewan Abilities Council, did go about it a bit differently, establishing a resource for voters to draw on. They groups hosted a luncheon for the candidates to focus on social issues. While each was only afforded two-minutes at the microphone, they had been asked to submit written answers to four questions including; What do you see as the number one social issue facing Yorkton today?
A booklet of the candidates’ responses was available for those attending, and is also available at www.sign-yorkton.org/yorktoncandidatesforumsocialissues2016
Still, this election, more than in recent municipal votes locally, the onus is more centred on voters seeking information on their own.
It is now only seven days until we trek to the polls to determine who will sit as City Council for the next four years, but there is still time for each of us to talk to the candidates we think are best suited to lead Yorkton forward. Ask those candidates their position on the issues that matter to you, and let that help guide you to vote for those who best align with your views. Yes the responsibility is with the voter this election. Hopefully each of us will take that responsibility seriously.
