Democracy can be hard work — just ask any of the 16 candidates running for Weyburn city council, or any of the candidates running in the villages, towns and RMs just how much work it takes to talk to people and put across their views on important issues.
That being said, it should become apparent to voters (in Weyburn, at least), that the questions dealt with at the candidates forum is not enough in and of itself. There were limitations due to the sheer number of candidates, resulting in a format that was not entirely to the liking of everyone.
In one sense, it was logical to limit the answers of a given question to four randomly-drawn candidates, as the Chamber did at the forum on Monday evening, but when the forum was opened to the public it really didn’t make sense to make the stipulation that a question couldn’t be directed to a candidate or candidates. This alone squelched a number of questions from even being raised on issues that probably would have livened up the forum a lot, and would have put issues before the public that needed commenting on.
One change that could have been made was to have the mayoral candidates do a debate between themselves. Instead they were lost in the sea of candidates and weren’t really able to address mayoral-type of issues.
This now puts the onus on the voter to do some work then, since the election is now a week away, on Wednesday, Oct. 26. If as a voter you have questions or issues you really want some answers to, or are curious what particular candidates would have to say on an issue of interest to you, then call them or go see them, and put the questions to them directly.
Sometimes issues that are brought up involve procedures or legislation that are beyond a candidate’s power to do anything about, and doing some research on these issues might bring some answers, or might raise questions that need to be put to a candidate or candidates.
The large crowd that filled the Legion Hall to capacity, not to mention the large slate of candidates vying for a seat on council, shows there is interest in how the city is run and in the issues that face city council.
Thus the important thing for voters to do is try and get the answers they need, but most crucial of all, is to make sure to cast a ballot, either at the advance polls (on Oct. 20 or 22 at City Hall) or on voting day, or even by mail-in ballot, and make sure your voice is heard. — Greg Nikkel
