On Saturday, Oct. 20, you and everyone you know will participate in democracy. There’s no way around it, and not just because there are 39 polling stations from Caledonia Avenue in Deep Cove to West First Street in Lower Lonsdale to Marine Drive in Eagle Harbour. And not just because there are compelling mayoralty races in all three municipalities.
The reason you will participate in democracy on Saturday – between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. – is because there’s no other option. Choosing not to vote means you’ve decided to relinquish the slim bit of power you have and to let others make decisions for you. But you’ve still made a choice.
We urge you to make the other choice. We urge you to vote.
A politician, according to H.L. Mencken, is: “an animal which can sit on a fence and yet keep both ears to the ground.”
Election day is our chance to vote them off that fence. It’s a chance to decide how our communities should evolve. Voting also gives you the right to remind your mayor and council just why they got your vote, how they can keep it, and what they can do to lose it.
Maybe you don’t know seven qualified candidates. That’s OK. You only need to know one.
The Harry Jerome rec centre project, the Park Royal towers, and the Emery Village development all came down to 4-3 votes. If you know just one candidate of conscience and intelligence who deserves to be on council, please put them where they belong, even if it means leaving the rest of the ballot blank.
Protests, debates and government decisions are all products of democracy. An election is democracy.
Participate wisely, but participate.
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