Election signs have sprouted up, gracing lawns and public spaces like so many bright, autumn flowers.
For the most part, they seem to be staying up, at least, so far. We have been fortunate in having relatively few storms to knock them down, and word seems to have trickled down to the dregs of society who vandalize election signs that they could be facing a hefty fine for indulging in such nonsense.
Before the campaign is over, there will undoubtedly be an incident or two. In years past, election signs were attached to sticks that made great kindling and a few enterprising souls collected them for such use, for attaching cardboard “garage sale” signs to, or for protecting new shrubbery and mailboxes from winter winds. The excuses for destroying election signs are many, and court officials have heard all of them.
The fact is, those signs are important. Police take it quite seriously when someone steals or damages them. Signs, flyers, newspaper ads, candidates’ meetings and knocking on doors are key ways of getting the word out about who is running for municipal office.
Even in a rural area, some candidates will be well known to local voters but others will not be. Every election, including this one, draws out the occasional person who has an axe to grind about a single issue. Unfortunately, such people do not necessarily make the best council members. On the other hand, a person who has just moved to the area and knows very few people may have a wealth of experience and skills to offer the community. How to tell them apart?
Voters need to do their homework. Given the importance of municipal leadership to everyone’s quality of life, devoting a bit of effort to separating the wheat from the chaff is warranted. The people for whom local voters will soon cast their ballots are going to be spending the next four years determining the future of this municipality. Where will growth take place? What kind of growth will it be? Will there be adequate municipal services for that growth?
Our elected leaders will be the ones who encourage certain industries to come here, and who ensure those industries will be able to recruit the employees they need because the community has the amenities people want. Their decisions make the difference between this being a welcoming, thriving community with a range of opportunities, and this community watching those opportunities migrate down the highway to more forward-thinking municipalities.
If anyone is wondering what kind of response there will be when 911 is called, how long it will take for roads to be cleared after a major snowstorm, or whether there will be recreational opportunities for teenaged hockey stars, senior pickleball enthusiasts, and assorted age and interest groups in between, they need to take a close look at the slate of municipal candidates. The same is true if they care about lack of affordable housing, or their inability to get a family doctor.
This community suffered greatly from pandemic lockdowns. Many businesses struggled, with varied levels of success. Some were forced to close their doors and more will probably follow. The number of success stories remains a major and crucial unknown. Municipal policies and assistance will be key in determining the answer over the coming years.
Municipal government has been called the most responsible level – if we are on a first-name basis with the prime minister or provincial premier, we are the exception, not the rule, but there is a very good chance we are on a first-name basis with the local mayor or at least a couple of members of council.
There is an excellent chance there will be municipal council representation at every milestone event in the community – council members are also community members, and have a vested interest in whatever happens here.
We, the voters, need to cast our ballots wisely.
