General municipal elections are the best because they bring out the purest form of campaigning with basic platforms and no-nonsense candidates.
We say this in light of the upcoming civic and municipal elections in our city and throughout our region.
Regretfully, many of these democratically selected candidates will be placed in their respective roles through acclamation, which probably evokes a sigh of relief from them, but in many respects, signals local apathy among the populace, which is never a good thing.
A local election should bring out the best in the candidates and the voters alike. Unfortunately, voter participation rates are usually around 25 to 35 per cent of those eligible to cast a ballot. Sad, but true.
Too often, we are quick to criticize and complain about local issues and services, but remain stubbornly uneducated about them and too lazy to even express a modicum of interest by casting a vote for a local candidate.
In fact, we’re wondering that even if the voting process were made easier, like a check mark on an online app, the ill-informed public would still pass up the opportunity to exercise their democratic right and responsibility.
The general response, would probably be, “What responsibility? I didn’t even know there was election? Who is running anyway?”
Last Wednesday evening, with fine weather conditions and a state-of-the-art facility at their disposal, only about 110 residents, out of a city population of over 12,000, bothered to show up to hear local candidates talk about local issues while pleading for local votes.
It was an opportunity to get up close and personal with the nine council aspirants and three mayoralty candidates, to ask them questions about how they would help run our city, and then receive an upfront response because, generally speaking, local council candidates don’t waffle and waddle like candidates for more senior government positions. They usually like to tell it like it is, sometimes unfiltered, and there is nothing wrong about that. In fact, it’s refreshing to hear honest, off-the-cuff responses to concerns involving everyday problems, whether it be garbage collection, water line breaks, street paving, policing and security, sidewalk repairs, subdivision development, park improvements, equipment purchases and contracted services for public consumption.
These are the every day issues we have.
We want local problems addressed and we heard from candidates about what they would do about them.
We heard about plans to reduce the city’s debt load, or how it needed to be added to, to get things done.
We heard honest responses to honest questions from citizens who are honestly involved in making Estevan and area a better place through a simple exercise in democracy.
Unfortunately over 11,000 of our local citizens, decided to stay home and only a few picked up Twitter feeds or expressed much interest in an event that took time and talent from the local Chamber of Commerce to plan and produce.
The signal that was sent to the candidates was that everything is fine in Estevan, we’re happy with what’s going on and what went on. Elect whomever you wish, I’m really not that interested.
Our only challenge in response to this apathetic attitude is … think about the alternative.
Democracy is certainly not perfect, but it’s well ahead of whatever is in second place.
Look around, get educated on local issues and vote, folks. It only happens every four years. Invest a little time in your own well-being.
