Is this going to be a puff ball election where the candidates are not called to account and challenged on how they will lead?

By Pepper Parr

September 12th, 2022

BURLINGTON, ON

OPINION

There is a massive difference between the way the 2022 election is rolling out and the way things went in 2018

The people who were involved in the election were pumped – there was hope in the air – you could almost taste the expectations – things were going to be different.
And during the election things were different.

ECOB – the Engaged Citizens of Burlington arose and organized debates in every ward in the city.

Those debates filled the locations they were held in.

The ward 2 debate in 2018 filled the Baptist Church on New Street – there wasn’t even standing room.

Had the Fire Chief been around he would have shut down the meeting at the New Street Baptist Church.

There wasn’t even any standing room available.

This time around the Mayoralty race is a foregone conclusion. For a short period of time it looked as if the ward 5 incumbent was going to be acclaimed. Now there are three people running against Paul Sharman and he could be replaced.

There is a candidate in ward 2 who will give the incumbent there more than a good run for her money.

A rate payers group in ward 2 is holding what is a Meet and Greet. Questions to the candidate will be given to them in advance of the event and there won’t be a debate.

The Roseland Community Association has plans to hold an event – they too were reported to be planning on giving candidates the questions in advance.

What happened to the accountability the public is consistently asking for ?

What the public needs is an opportunity to see how well the candidates handle themselves when they are asked a question they don’t know is coming.

The crowd at the ward 1 debate in Aldershot filled the space – 11 candidates took part.

Candidates need to be challenged – learning that they aren’t all that swift after they have been sworn in isn’t what democratically elected councils are about.
Burlington is said to be polite – but this is just short of ridiculous.

There is one candidate who asked if he was allowed to attend a meeting at the Council Chamber – perhaps he was concerned about COVID19 issues?

We elect men and women to represent us and leave them to it. The public has a responsibility to do their homework, to look carefully at the candidates: that kind of thing takes place when there is a fair, honest open debate.

Meet and Greets and community sponsored events with candidates given the questions in advance is what happens in small rural communities where everyone already knows everyone.

The citizens of the city need to step up to the plate and do their job

Failing to require the candidates, incumbents and first timers,  will get you more of this which is not what the city needs at this point in its growth.

Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.