I visited the site and good job to those involved.
There are some interesting ( and obvious ) topics listed on the " issues" page. I caught myself imagining what may be going through some of the candidates minds when asked about each of these topics.
The concept of " election issues" always struck me as out of place in a municipal election. In a community as small as ours, I’m not convinced that my personal opinion on any issue listed on the website would bare much weight. I’d like to think that my availability to the voting public would mean more than my POV on these subjects.
Try this on for size.
I get elected as a council person. The public is demanding steps be taken to deal w/ Vandalism in PR. Is “my opinion” what the public really wants. I say no. I don’t own or lease a building in the downtown district. I am pretty far removed ( given my profession is , let’s say, a teacher or a contractor) What I SHOULD bring to the table is an openness to listen to everyone else’s opinion but my own. Only then can one truly represent the voting public. Maybe I’m naive.
Election issues ( a term which bothers me) , should be left where they ( kinda) belong, at the federal and provincial level.
As the hypothetical council member whose opinions should not carry much weight, how would you make yourself available to the public to receive their opinions, before weighing what you have heard and rendering (no doubt in a selfless and benevolent manner in your case) decisions intended to reflect the popular will?
There’s a brief question period at the public council meetings, but asking a question isn’t quite the same as an opportunity to offer an opinion to the decision-makers. Sometimes local groups present petitions. Is that the only vehicle through which public opinion flows to the council?
Of course in Rupert half of the council meetings are closed sessions. All that we as the public know is that we don’t know what issues are discussed there. How do we provide the council with opinions about those issues?
Would you as the hypothetical candidate standing for election push for town hall style meetings where the public can present their opinions for consideration? Is that idea part of the issue-free platform that you are taking to the people?
Or do you as a hypothetical council member not rely so much on formal venues to hear the opinions of the public? Do you rely instead on informal interactions, at work, in coffee shops, social functions and so on? But are you sure that you’ll hear all points of view? And should decisions really come down to who you know? That style of decision-making is usually seen as a problem and if taken too far is against the law.
Perhaps you’re saying that we should accept that local elections are mostly popularity contests. Maybe you’re being a hard realist, recognizing things as they are. We elect who we know and trust, and we hope for the best. Is that democracy in action Rupert style?
Or do you as a hypothetical council member not rely so much on formal venues to hear the opinions of the public? Do you rely instead on informal interactions, at work, in coffee shops, social functions and so on? But are you sure that you’ll hear all points of view? And should decisions really come down to who you know? That style of decision-making is usually seen as a problem and if taken too far is against the law.
Perhaps you’re saying that we should accept that local elections are mostly popularity contests. Maybe you’re being a hard realist, recognizing things as they are. We elect who we know and trust, and we hope for the best. Is that democracy in action Rupert style?[/quote]
I’d have to say, in terms of interactions with the public, the onus would be on them to find me, track me down and rattle the chain. Once the decision to run for council had been reached, I may find myself feeling obliged to make it known, the various ways to contact me. Since I’m a teacher or hold down some type of a job/ career, the initial contact by Joe public may be a very brief one. 'just enough time to set up a time to meet and/ or discuss what’s on their mind. If Joe has a question or concern then he/ she will need to take time out of their day to talk ( not just a quick rant). At least this way I’ve done due diligence in making myself available.
I’m not sure I understand what you mean by ’ …should decisions come down to who you know’. My opinion is that in a municipal election ( especially in small ones) the successful canditates are, for the most part, people that we can at least identify with. People that have volunteered, took part in a community group or presented themselves in public once or twice and didn’t completely ( for lack of a better phrase) piss you off.
'not sure grey hair has what it takes…Maybe he set the communication bar too high.
All hypothetical of course, but interesting campaign strategy. Post your contact info on skeena.org skip the profile and issues and you’re kind of done.
[quote=“grey hair”]
'not sure grey hair has what it takes…Maybe he set the communication bar too high.[/quote]
All hypothetical of course, but interesting campaign strategy. Post your contact info on skeena.org skip the profile and issues and you’re kind of done.
[quote=“grey hair”]
'not sure grey hair has what it takes…Maybe he set the communication bar too high.[/quote]
… or low depending on perspective.[/quote]
‘Curious BTravenn, Just wondering how this hypo.canditate could have set the bar too low. The various ways of contact included phone, email, postal and maybe social media ( at least HTMF). After all, he/ she is a workin’ shmuck like most.
‘Curious BTravenn, Just wondering how this hypo.canditate could have set the bar too low. The various ways of contact included phone, email, postal and maybe social media ( at least HTMF). After all, he/ she is a workin’ shmuck like most.[/quote]
If you were running for office and all you did was provide contact information and leave it up to voters to contact you, not to hear your opinions - you don’t have any for these purposes - but so that you can listen to theirs’, most would conclude that you are not really that interested and you and your non-platform would not get many votes. All hypothetical of course.
‘Curious BTravenn, Just wondering how this hypo.canditate could have set the bar too low. The various ways of contact included phone, email, postal and maybe social media ( at least HTMF). After all, he/ she is a workin’ shmuck like most.[/quote]
If you were running for office and all you did was provide contact information and leave it up to voters to contact you, not to hear your opinions - you don’t have any for these purposes - but so that you can listen to theirs’, most would conclude that you are not really that interested and you and your non-platform would not get many votes. All hypothetical of course.[/quote]
Interesting. You’re implying that in order for a candidate to run for council, it would be in their best interest to have a motivation other than just using their problem solving skills and communication/ trouble shooting strengths. I was always one to think that at a municipal level, there is little room for a platform. That people would be better served by a council that can systematically ’ react ’ and do their best to come to a decision that represents the majority as opposed to a council that is trying to convince their citizens that their platform is the way to go.
… I was always one to think that at a municipal level, there is little room for a platform. That people would be better served by a council that can systematically ’ react ’ and do their best to come to a decision that represents the majority as opposed to a council that is trying to convince their citizens that their platform is the way to go.[/quote]
What you may be saying, and if so I would agree, is that there is little room in municipal politics for left-right platforms. Much of what municipal government does is devoid of ideological content. The city is supposed to ensure among other things that if a citizen turns on a tap water comes out, they shouldn’t need a flashlight to walk on a sidewalk at night, and the local constabulary should have a proper station with a jail to operate out of and not a tent or atco trailer. There’s not much left-right there.
A strange thing about Rupert is that left-right seems to be somewhat reversed. People who one would think are on the right seem to like the idea of a socialist telecom serving the people and resist the incursions of big brand competitors, while the lefties, perhaps thinking more as consumers, wish that there was more of the choice that a free market economy should provide.
As for people being better served by a council that is there to ‘react’, rather than waiting for problems to emerge before springing into action to apply their problem-solving skills, perhaps it would be good if the council looked ahead on occasion and avoided some problems before they rear their heads or develop some opportunities that maybe the rest of us don’t see quite so clearly. Something more than just reacting to problems should come out of those private conclaves with those in the know. Hopefully some ‘vision’ will characterize municipal politics on occasion.
… I was always one to think that at a municipal level, there is little room for a platform. That people would be better served by a council that can systematically ’ react ’ and do their best to come to a decision that represents the majority as opposed to a council that is trying to convince their citizens that their platform is the way to go.[/quote]
What you may be saying, and if so I would agree, is that there is little room in municipal politics for left-right platforms. Much of what municipal government does is devoid of ideological content. The city is supposed to ensure among other things that if a citizen turns on a tap water comes out, they shouldn’t need a flashlight to walk on a sidewalk at night, and the local constabulary should have a proper station with a jail to operate out of and not a tent or atco trailer. There’s not much left-right there.
A strange thing about Rupert is that left-right seems to be somewhat reversed. People who one would think are on the right seem to like the idea of a socialist telecom serving the people and resist the incursions of big brand competitors, while the lefties, perhaps thinking more as consumers, wish that there was more of the choice that a free market economy should provide.
As for people being better served by a council that is there to ‘react’, rather than waiting for problems to emerge before springing into action to apply their problem-solving skills, perhaps it would be good if the council looked ahead on occasion and avoided some problems before they rear their heads or develop some opportunities that maybe the rest of us don’t see quite so clearly. Something more than just reacting to problems should come out of those private conclaves with those in the know. Hopefully some ‘vision’ will characterize municipal politics on occasion.[/quote]
Agreed. Both short term goals and long term should be part of any groups strategic planning. Social and economic growth depends on them.I may have lead you to believe that sitting back and waiting for something to happen is a recipe for an effective council. My bad.
ahh yes, the Atco trailer. Now there was someone with vision.