It was a packed house last Thursday night at the Listowel Agricultural Hall. I pulled in at 7:35 p.m., rushed from an afternoon spent cleaning barns that spilled into evening, and was happily surprised to see that there was nary a seat to be found.
Mirroring the full house was a full complement of tables with 15 of the 18 candidates vying for various positions on North Perth’s next municipal council. Beyond the large in-person crowd, the video has received almost 2,000 views on the Listowel Agricultural Society’s YouTube page. As a voter, I was thankful for the opportunity to hear from the folks running in Elma Ward as well as for deputy mayor. It was disappointing that one of the mayoral candidates, Julian George, was unable to attend.
There is no easy way to make a debate with that many people work perfectly; full marks to moderator Elizabeth Johnston for pulling it off and keeping the night moving as best one could hope for. The meeting itself did not disappoint and gave voters a lot to chew on over the last couple weeks leading into election day.
Speaking of election day, the first advance poll happened at the Elma Logan Recreation Complex in Monkton on Oct. 12 and next up at the municipal office on Oct. 15. Make sure you get out and vote!
Instead of trying to recreate the excellent coverage in this week’s edition of the Banner, we are going to stick with last week’s theme of envisioning a council that doesn’t have quotas based on geography – instead filling out a hypothetical ballot where I as a voter could support any one of the 14 council candidates as well as mayor and deputy mayor.
Mayor: Todd Kasenberg
The incumbent mayor was well prepared and did well on hot-button questions like that of the tents currently on public lands. A divisive issue that pits public safety against the right to shelter is no easy line to straddle, and his skill at extending respect to all sides in a conversation was apparent throughout the night.
Deputy Mayor: Doug Kellum
A good counterpoint to the incumbent mayor, our incumbent deputy mayor displayed the power of experience can have to know the limitations, and more importantly, opportunities that lie within the purview of a municipal level of government.
The Locks: A group of no-doubters who left no question they should be around the table
Neil Ansett: A first-term incumbent councillor, Mr. Anstett proved that he is a good voice for younger families here in North Perth. North Perth needs to continue to attract young families and council needs people that understand the needs of those of us balancing work, young children, aging parents, and a rapid rise in the cost of living.
Paul Horn: In a field heavy on Baby Boomers with council experience, former councillor Horn rose to the top for that particular demographic. He acknowledged the challenges around infrastructure, the expensive price tags that come with necessary upgrades, and the underpinning need for public buy-in if municipal initiatives are going to be successful.
Matt Duncan: Another incumbent, Mr. Duncan will ensure that no penny gets wasted while being committed to being accessible to his constituents. His answer to the question surrounding diversity stood out to me as exceptional in a set that had some questionable responses.
No Reservations: A group that after some careful thinking would be a good fit
Sarah Blazek: Council needs good succession planning and a balance between experience and new blood is imperative every election cycle. Blazek was well prepared on a wide variety of issues; if that level of commitment to the job carries on post-election then North Perth stands to benefit.
Yasmin Vanos: While it was apparent that Vanos will need the experience of others to develop into a councillor who truly understands the role of municipal government, there was one thing she had on display more than any other candidate. Ms. Vanos seems to love this town without abandon and envisions a future for more people to learn that same love. As someone who can become preoccupied with the warts of North Perth, I found that positive energy refreshing.
Allan Rothwell and Dave Johnston: Counterbalancing new faces requires a bit of grey hair; not to mention the need for a farmer at a council table in an agricultural community like North Perth. Both councillors have a proven track record while providing a wealth of institutional knowledge for the newcomers.
That’s a wrap on the hypothetical wardless ballot… who knows, perhaps in 2026 all of us will be filling one in like this here in North Perth.
A (dis)honourable mention:
For residents of our Listowel Ward, look to candidates other than Darrell Weber. Religious fundamentalism has no place at any level of government, and throughout the night Mr. Weber displayed a flawed theocratic version of Christianity that is quite unlike the Christianity I am taught at Knox Presbyterian. His unacceptable homophobic comments during the question surrounding diversity in North Perth showed an inability to be guided by faith to serve all members of creation equally, instead insisting that all should live by his own narrow interpretation of morality.
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Stewart Skinner is a local business owner, former political candidate, and has worked at Queen’s Park as a Policy Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs. He can be reached at stewart@stonaleenfarms.ca or on Twitter: @modernfarmer.
