Choosing the man for Wellington

Last week’s edition (September 5), contained articles about each of the three candidates running for councillor in Wellington (Ward Three), based upon asking them identical questions about their “priorities, aspirations and reasons for running.”

After reading and rereading the articles, I’m left with the impression that all three candidates are gripping similar parts of the same elephant. Jim Dunlop, the incumbent councillor, says the big problem facing Wellington is water pressure, or the lack thereof as now experienced by residents of Wellington on the Lake. Candidate Mike Harper also says the main issue is water —water rates, water pressure and the inability to develop infrastructure without improvements in water delivery. And Brent Kleinsteuber agrees that without more housing and long-term residents added to the tax base, water rates cannot begin to be reduced.

It’s all connected. Unless the water pressure problem is addressed, there can be no major development in Wellington, and without new development, there is no solution to the housing shortage facing the County. Without an addition to the County’s residential base, there can be no relief from high water rates—and high taxes.

So how am I supposed to decide who to vote for? It would do the candidates a disservice to decide among them based upon their crude profiles: the experienced low-key conciliator, the fresh legs with lots of ideas, or the young pup who represents the future. All of them are thoughtful candidates. Each of them would make an excellent councillor.

Some further differentiation among the candidates will come with a survey, prepared with the assistance of the indefatigable Gary Mooney, which will run in The Times beginning on September 26. However, the survey will not likely contain a number of questions that may truly separate the candidates. Questions such as who is the candidate’s favourite Beatle, or Andrews sister, or rap star who died a violent death at a young age, depending upon the candidate’s era of closest association with pop culture. It will probably not ask him about his favourite book or meal; and about which public figure, past or present, he admires. It will not pin him down on what he likes to do for a good time, and what he considers his weakest character trait. Nor, to the regret of many, will it ask him what astrological sign he was born under.

We could try to learn about the candidates by putting them through a series of tests. For instance, we could ask each of them to take a drive from Wellington Town Hall to Glenora to catch the 11:30 ferry. If one of them leaves at 11 and still makes it there in time, he is fairly profiled as an impatient sort who tends to cut corners and do things at the last minute. If one of them leaves an hour beforehand and takes a scenic overland route and misses the ferry, he is probably interested in exploring new possibilities and creative solutions—and less concerned about their timely delivery. And if one of them gets into a road rage incident at Tim Hortons corners in Picton, we will know he is just a regular Joe like the rest of us.

Alternatively, we could give them each a thousand dollars and tell them to spend it however they wish. If one of them uses his money to commission a study to see how his gift should be spent, we’ll know he is a cautious type who doesn’t like making tough decisions. If one of them uses the money to start a fund at the County Community Foundation in order to bring about world peace, we will know he is an idealistic straight arrow. And if one of them spends the whole bundle on a craft brewery tour with his 15 best buddies, we will think about running for council next time ourselves, although for now we might be concerned about his readiness to part with taxpayers’ money.

There is one other step you can take apart from relying on a survey. You can take the direct measure of the men at an all-candidates meeting. You’ll soon find out whether they listen to questions and answer directly, or whether they interrupt and give pat answers; whether they have a solution for every problem or have the confidence to say they haven’t yet learned enough about the issue to take a stand; whether they slip below a threshold level of general familiarity with County issues and would be on too steep a learning curve to be effective contributors; whether they are courteous to their opponents in debate; whether they can marshal their thoughts rationally and present them assertively; and whether they know what the heck they want to accomplish or are simply offering themselves to be ‘of service.’

I’m going to attend one, for sure. To make an informed decision is our part of the candidate/elector bargain: they offer themselves up for public acceptance or rejection on the understanding that we take our choice seriously. Besides, I would hate to have to choose my candidate on the basis that his preference in pizza toppings was most similar to mine—unless of course he was also an Aquarius.

There are two all-candidates meetings on the agenda. One is this Thursday, September 13 hosted by the Wellington and District Business Association at 7 p.m. at the Wellington Legion. Everyone is welcome. The other is a public session on Tuesday, October 11 at 7 p.m. at the Wellington on the Lake Recreation centre. Election Day is Monday, October 22.