Saskatchewan residents can be forgiven if they have had their fill of elections.
They went to the polls for the federal election last fall and for the provincial election in April. Now they are gearing up for the civic election on Oct. 26, when there will be votes for urban and rural municipalities, as well as school boards.
It’s not anyone’s fault; it’s just the way the schedule worked out. The flip side for those with election fatigue is most of us won’t have to worry about another election for three years, unless Prime Minister Trudeau II decides to call a snap vote.
While civic politics don’t attract the same attention from the national media as provincial and federal politics do, the impact of civic politics is undeniable. For those of us in rural areas, it represents the greatest connection between us and our elected officials.
MLAs in the southeast are responsible for a number of communities. Souris-Moose Mountain MP Robert Kitchen is tasked with the concerns of a sprawling riding with more than 72,000 residents.
But we have access to our mayors, reeves and councillors that we don’t get with other levels of government.
And we tend to be more cognizant of how our taxpayer dollars are spent at the municipal level, than at the federal and provincial governments.
Serving as an elected official is not for everyone. Not only does it require dedication and a passion for the community, but elected officials need patience, people skills and a certain level of smarts.
They have to be able to take a verbal onslaught from a concerned ratepayer who, maybe, doesn’t have the full grasp of the issue.
But we do hope to see a healthy slate of candidates, and some interesting races, across this region for the civic election.
While school board trustees don’t have the same level of connection as municipal politicians, thanks to the large, regional school boards that now govern education in the province, the school boards still need people with a keen interest in the education of young people.
Municipal and school board politics can also be a starting point for bigger political aspirations. A lot of MLAs and MPs got their start by being elected to councils or by sitting at the school board table.
As for those of us who won’t be seeking elected office this fall, we get to vote for the candidate(s) of our choice. It’s best to study the issues and learn more about the candidates. (Your community newspaper is a great place to start).
It’s important to make knowledgeable and informed decisions. After all, these people will be representing your city, town, village or rural municipality for the next four years. And if you opt not to vote (even though you are eligible), then you have forfeited your right to an opinion for the next four years.
