So, the race is on to earn a seat on city council.
Coun. Andy Adams has announced he’s taking a run at the mayor’s seat, the mayor announced months ago he’s seeking re-election and two members of the public, Darryn Striga and Les Lengyel have come forward with their intention to sit on city council.
It looks like there will be at least two new city councillors given that Andy is going after the mayor’s chair and Ryan Mennie has left town (although finishing out his term via video link). We haven’t heard from our remaining councillors yet – Mary Story, Claire Moglove, Larry Samson and Ron Kerr.
I’m sure other people come forward to run for council.
It’s going to be an interesting election given the lines that have been drawn in the sand during this past council term. Incumbent Mayor Walter Jakeway has shown he’s willing to buck trends and go his own way. That appeals to a lot of voters. Adams has also been part of this council which has often seen the mayor on the outside looking in when it came to decisions on spending, taxation and other issues.
Even when Adams announced his candidacy a couple of weeks ago, the sentiments on the Mirror’s facebook page were strong for and against.
Of course, that’s one of the drawbacks about social media. The ability to respond to news is a good thing but the tone isn’t always the most pleasant. Those strong feelings have always been there over any issue or candidate but now there’s a quick and easy outlet for them.
This election will be fought on social media more than ever. It won’t be for the faint of heart. Hopefully, people will keep it civil and recognize that although people running have a different point of view, it is still a valid point of view.
There’s nothing I hate more than the people who comment with a tone of, not only are you wrong, but you’re stupid too. There’s really no need for that. You can be passionate and opinionated but you are not inherently right because you subscribe to one philosophy or another.
Civil discourse should be just that, civil. All opinions are valid and all who stand for office deserve respect. They’re entitled to criticism when they say and do things that are wrong but not before they do them. And not because they express an opinion different from yours.
I know, I’m a dreamer.
So, let the games begin.
- Meanwhile....I’m sure there’s more detail to come but I find the “incubation cells” proposed for the Enterprise Centre weird. First of all, we’re going to spend about $260,000 on renovations to give (rent, hopefully) space to small businesses? Okay, that’s fair enough but they’re going to be divided into mens cells and women’s cells? The irony of using the term cells in the former RCMP detachment did not escape me when I wrote the headline on page 6.