New West youth leads veteran councillor’s campaign

Sadie DeCoste is looking forward to voting in her first municipal election – and doing her best to lead an incumbent back into council chambers.

The Sapperton resident is getting a firsthand look at municipal campaign by serving as Lorrie Williams’ campaign manager. DeCoste, 18, also chairs a youth committee comprised of local students who are volunteering on Williams’ campaign.

“We meet weekly. We go over what it takes to advertise the campaign. We have canvassers going out a couple times a week – that’s us and some other friends. We work on things like social media, organizing signs and advertising,” she told The Record. “We are trying our best.”

DeCoste, who has been Williams neighbour for years, also helped during the 2011 campaign.

“It’s a lot of work,” she said about running a campaign. “It’s also kind of scary because you work really hard and it’s hard to know whether it will come to fruition. We are hopeful.”

In 2011, DeCoste did a bit of canvassing on Williams’ behalf and worked at her campaign’s phone bank.

"Sadie wanted to help on the campaign, so I started taking her to events and talking to her about the political process," Williams said in a press release. "This election, I recruited her to be my junior campaign manager, but she was so adept at organizing, I asked her to come on board as my official agent."

According to Williams, the Elections Canada national youth survey report stated the number one barrier for youth in voting was political interest and knowledge. Williams has asked each of the members of her youth committee to get 10 pledges from friends and family to vote.

"We know if young people don't vote in the first election where they have an opportunity, the chances they will ever vote drastically declines,” Williams said. “Young people like Sadie have so much to offer when they are given some support and the opportunity to engage in politics."

One of DeCoste’s strengths is helping Williams maximize her message through social media, something that’s second nature to people her age.

"I think young people feel they can't engage in politics because they don't have enough information," she said. "Lorrie has taught me there is a place for youth in politics and that we can have an impact on making change in our community."

DeCoste, for one, can’t wait to vote in the Nov. 15 municipal election.

“It’s super exciting,” she said. “I have wanted to vote for the past couple of years. I think it's a way to show that I can effect change.”

DeCoste said it’s hard to say how much a vote counts at a federal level, but it’s easier to see how much it matters at the local level. In the future, DeCoste hopes to study political science or international relations at university.

"This has been an incredible experience," she said. "Lorrie is a wonderful mentor. She is passionate about the community and has taught me a lot about what is possible through politics."