Simple questions

In just over a month we will go to the polls to elect a new municipal government. Are you ready? I know most folks don’t like to see a long election campaign drag out—but this seems too short—too sudden.

At the Times, we are working to get you the information you need to make a sound choice for the future of our County. For the decision we make next month, we must live with for four years.

To help do this we have been running a series of stories introducing you to some of the new candidates. This will be a bit of a challenge with so many late entries; however, we will do our best. By necessity, incumbents, or existing councillors, are on their own. This is not meant as a slight— but rather recognition that they start the race with an advantage— a community profile and public awareness.

Beginning next week, we will add to our coverage by publishing the results of a survey conducted of all 43 candidates in this municipal election both for mayor and councillor. Each week for the next three weeks we will print the candidates’ responses to three questions posed to them by the Concerned Citizens of Prince Edward County, drafted with input from the Times. The nine questions, in total, touch on a range of subjects from management to agriculture, development to heritage.

The questions are, by necessity, simplistic and as such perhaps a bit unfair to the candidates. Only yes or no answers were accepted; however, respondents were allowed to add qualifying comments. These comments will be available online on the Concerned Citizens website at ccpec.on.ca.

So why do it? What is the benefit of a simple yes or no? The answer lies in enhanced voter participation and engagement.

The simple truth is that we all need to reach out to a broader audience—both this paper and the folks who will form our next elected council. Too few of us participate in local government—yet it consumes a large, and growing, amount of our income and resources each year.

The challenge we face each week, as a newspaper, is to make the business of the County accessible and relevant to the lives of our readers.

The intent of publishing this survey is to present a simple and clear table, offering a quick sense of where the can- didates are on the issues of the day. If it were the sum total of our coverage we would not have done it. It will be, we hope, a springboard, for our readers to learn more about the candidates’ positions and views.

The potential rewards are too important to resist. Imagine if, as a result of this survey, we were able to prod a few more of our fellow residents to dig a little deeper into the issues and questions of the day—perhaps explore candidates’ campaigns a little more deeply. What if we are able to spark a curiosity among our younger voters still trying to find relevance in local issues? What if the survey started a discussion? The potential reward is that more folks begin talking about who will represent us at Shire Hall.

If this survey and its results accomplish just one of these feats, it will have been worth doing—for ourselves and the the candidates.

I am pleased to report that 84 per cent, or 36 of the 43 candidates, came to the same conclusion. Five declined to respond to the survey; two more had not returned telelphone calls and emails by press time.

Look for the first series of results in next week’s Times.

ALL-CANDIDATES MEETINGS

Currently this newspaper is aware of only two candidates meetings in the run up to the election. On Oct. 7, the Prince Edward County Chamber of Tourism and Commerce is planning a candidates’ meeting in Picton. On Oct. 14 a meeting featuring local and mayoral candidates is planned in Ameliasburgh.

If your organization or group is planning an all-candidates in your community, please send your details to corey@wellingtontimes.ca or by fax to 613-399-1945. Each week until the election we will post a list of these meetings with times, dates and locations.

rick@wellingtontimes.ca