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Voter turnout heats up

Peter Kent plans to set himself on fire
kent
Arnold Schwarzenegger and stuntman Peter Kent pose for a shot. Kent pledges to light himself on fire.

 

There’s nothing like a politician promising to set himself on fire to generate a media storm.

“48 Hours called, CTV is meeting me in 20 minutes. I haven’t had time to go to the [District of Squamish] to get a permit,” councilor-elect Peter Kent said Monday, while in the midst of juggling an onslaught of interview requests. 

“It’s just been crazy.” 

Apparently this is what one can expect if you pledge to light yourself on fire in the name of voter turnout. During the run-up to the municipal election, the professional stuntman announced he would become a ball of flames if more eligible voters cast ballots than in 2011, when turnout for the municipal election was 38.6 per cent. 

On Saturday, Nov. 15, Squamish residents crossed that line with 47.13 per cent of eligible voters participating in the election, according to the district. 

“I am so proud of this town,” Kent said. “We did get a higher than normal turnout.”

In fact, this election had the highest number of people vote than ever before, chief election officer Robin Arthurs said. In all, 12,824 people hit the polls; that’s 771 more voters than the previous record from 2011. 

The reason the percentage doesn’t beat out other years’ figures comes down to the community’s growth, Arthurs noted. 

The election in 2002 boasted the highest voter turnout at 62.2 per cent. At that time, the community’s population was less than half of what it is today, Arthurs said. 

Advanced voting also saw more people at the polls than ever before. Just over 1,100 residents got their ballots in early, four hundred more than in 2011. 

Kent hopes to get everything in place so that he can carry out his promise as soon as possible along Cleveland Avenue. Besides Kent’s commitment, Valhalla Pure Outfitters pledged to give the Squamish Helping Hands Society $1,000 if voter turnout topped the 2011 figure. The Squamish Chief newspaper also pitched in a new snowboard for the Squamish Youth Centre’s snowboard team. 

Kent warned that only a professional should light himself on fire.

 “It’s dangerous as hell,” he said. 

Kent said he’s pleased the pledge has generated so much media hype. He wants to help place the community in the spotlight as much as possible. 

“This town is amazing,” Kent said. “Let’s get more eyes on Squamish.”

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