Gearing up to vote: what’s to think about?
Editorial by Mary P Brooke, West Shore Voice News
August 31, 2018.
For any election, as a voter you want to know who’s running. And the issues matter too — what’s important to you and to your community? You should probably get an idea of the voting strategy landscape… same ol’ slate running or lots of fresh new faces, or a combination of that?
Who among the candidates has been involved in what committees, community initiatives and causes? Do they approach the responsibility and privilege of holding public office as a career-job (for all those perks like fees for attending meetings, travel expenses covered, as well as a form of job stability), or are they bringing some fresh awareness to the public forum? Experience as an elected official doesn’t always matter (how else would new candidates get into the system)?
But what does matter is who gets to have their ‘finger on the nuclear button’ so to speak. What is the character, perspective and inclinations of each candidate? When votes at the council table come up that really will make a difference to your community, will you trust that person to vote in your best interest? Mayors and Councillors are representatives of the people and their communities. A lot of what they handle day to day is pretty dry stuff. But sometimes a vote here and there affects taxes, how and where people live, and things that can play out for the long term like housing styles, transportation networks, local cost of living, and overall enjoyment of community.
Easy to say, but don’t be fooled by campaign rhetoric. Every campaign will have been cobbled together by a team that has in mind the best interests of not only their candidate but also the people who surround that candidate and council. Life is busy, but in the long-run it pays for voters to know what issues are happening in your community, and where each candidate stands on those.
On the west side of south Vancouver Island we’ll be covering news of campaigns in the full region including Langford, Colwood, Sooke, Highlands, View Royal, Metchosin and Juan de Fuca. In Langford there may be a few new faces but the same momentum carries on. In Colwood quite a few new candidates are lining up to run, with at least two incumbents known to be not running again. In Sooke it’s the usual tug-of-war between how the town stays as it was and where it wants to go; while there’s no spoken slate, it’s pretty clear as to which side of the fence candidates are clustered. Metchosin has had trouble finding candidates for the required 4-year commitment in their smaller community. View Royal has seen a shift of at least one councillor over to Colwood where the west shore action is growing. In Juan de Fuca for director, it may again be a one-candidate race.
Another wrinkle to watch for is who has dual interests? Are they running in more than one municipality and/or for more than one position? Do they plan on still working in an industry that presents potential conflicts for serving on council? Maybe none of this matters to some, but it’s stuff worth thinking about.
Where you get your campaign info does matter. Is it official campaign material? Does it arrive at your door or email inbox or Facebook feed, or do you need to seek it out? What do you believe? What media do you follow? Almost all social media is slanted to being promotional (about anything at any time, not just elections). Sticking to reliable news media is your best bet for any analytical approach to what is going on, to get some context on campaigns and candidates.
You may also want to think about whether you will advance-vote or not. While voting ahead of the general election date is presented as a convenience (and for many it probably is, usually including shorter lineups), remember that advance voting includes a function that supports campaign teams. Once you’ve voted at an advance poll, the scrutineers for each candidate are officially privy to knowing who has voted. If you still haven’t voted, they will be inclined to actively contact you to still win your vote for their candidate.
Reader comments on the issues, leads and tips, or assessment of the candidates and insights on the overall electoral process are welcome for our pages (print and online). Write to: news@westshorevoicenews.com
~ MPB
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