Time is winding down to the Sept. 18 election nomination deadline and we have been surprised by what has been a lack luster response to the call for candidates.
So far, only 10 council candidates have announced intentions to be on the Oct. 16 ballot, while we expect more people to announce now that summer is over, as it stands now, there is a 60 per cent chance of getting elected – candidates should have to work harder for their seats.
The race for mayor isn’t very exciting either. As it stands incumbent Ivan Brooker is set to square off against 25-year-old Tom Hardy, a new face to municipal politics. It is surprising considering the criticisms in the media and on social media that more people have not thrown their hat into the ring.
The comments point toward this being an election with strong issues and a desire for change, but the response in the form of people stepping up to the council plate is showing a surprising level of apathy.
It is one thing to criticize and point fingers from the sidelines, but the electorate sets council and mayoral mandates in the form of ballots. That is very difficult to do without a strong slate of candidates.
The best election makes each candidate work for their seats and the results paint a picture of what voters want to see from the next term.
To achieve that there should be at least 12 candidates for council and at least three for mayor. With that kind of candidate response, there can be some analysis of the numbers.
Successful candidates can gauge public direction by the types of candidates who garnered the most votes. Which platforms generated the highest votes? Which fell short? Who found themselves squeaking into their seats?
It is those results that tell candidates whether to go strong on their positions through the next term or if they need to tweak their direction slightly if they hope for a second term. The new council can also take a lesson from those candidates who lose by paying attention to the platforms or personality traits that voters found unfavourable.
The first step toward a healthy democracy and a strong representative council can only be achieved if people are willing to step up and run, armchair critics won’t cut it.
Step two is attracting voters. Strong candidates help, but people understanding the importance of voting is vital. The bigger the turnout, the better the chance of a representative council.
We at the Cochrane Eagle are working to do our part of keeping voters informed. We will feature ongoing coverage of candidates and issues through out the election. We are also hosting an all-candidates forum on Sept. 26 from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Lions Events Centre.
It’s time for everyone to do their part. If you want change, sometimes you have to make it and the only way to do that is to get off the sidelines and run for government.
