Though the real campaign period is still months away, it’s safe to say New Westminster’s municipal election race is already underway.
Today’s print edition brings you a story about the first person to declare his intention to seek candidacy on behalf of the brand-new New Westminster Progressive Electors Coalition.
As the Oct. 20 election date draws closer, Daniel Fontaine will undoubtedly be joined by a host of other local folks looking for a spot on school board or city council – or, possibly, just looking for a chance to make their voices heard during the campaign.
We don’t know, yet, who all those folks will be.
But whoever they are, we have to confess: We’re nerdily and goofily excited that it’s an election year.
From a newspapering point of view, there’s something extra satisfying about a year when local elected officials are hyper-aware of the fact their actions are all coming under public scrutiny – and when their critics are equally aware that now’s their chance to make hay with those elected officials’ perceived shortcomings and poor decisions over the previous four years.
We’re expecting city council and school board meetings will be just that much more entertaining as the months draw on.
But we don’t want to see local politics descend into a free-for-all of finger-pointing and name-calling, either.
So we’re putting ourselves on the record right here, right now, in asking all our local candidates to please play nice.
You remember all those great life rules you learned in kindergarten?
Take turns. Share. Don’t be mean to each other. Don’t push. Don’t call anyone names. Take responsibility for yourself. Don’t blame other people for stuff that’s your fault. Clean up your own mess. Say sorry when you hurt somebody, even if it’s by accident.
Use those as your guidelines to politicking, and we’ll all make it through this sure-to-be-silly season with style.
Yes, we love to write entertaining headlines.
But even more than that, we love democracy – and we need everyone’s help to ensure our electoral system delivers the best government we can get.
