Compared to some other jurisdictions the local municipal election campaign has been a welcome oasis of decorum.
Vancouver held a circus sideshow, loosely referred to as a mayoral race. In West Vancouver the board of governors for an organization called the West Vancouver Citizens for Good Government (WVCGG) interviewed candidates behind closed doors and subsequently selected a short list of council nominees. The group's membership was then called on to approve the recommended slate, or select other candidates. Each council aspirant who was endorsed by the group got tagged for $900, allegedly to pay for WVCGG-sanctioned campaign brochures and newspaper ads. In the past, candidates without the blessing of the organization rarely got elected.
Fortunately, no shadowy election gatekeepers set up shop in the Shining Valley. There were also no blatant character assassinations and episodes of grandstanding were kept to a minimum. That does not imply the discussion was always entirely civil. At times doses of vitriol, as well as a smattering of skulduggery, seeped into the proceedings. Anything can happen when the heated debate of municipal politics is transferred to an upstart medium like Facebook, or Twitter.
In any event, 26 candidates have put a spotlight on muni hall's shortcomings. That's what the democratic process is all about. Is this town a basket case? No. Have the powers-that-be made mistakes? Yes. Could we do better? Definitely! Documents like the Service Squamish Initiative, the Squamish Community Foundation Vital Signs report and the District of Squamish Long Term Financial Plan will provide the incoming council with a good sense of direction.
But make no mistake: The next three years will not be a cakewalk. The seven candidates who are elected will have their work cut out for them. In no small measure, they will be called on to save us from ourselves: from a Squamish Oceanfront development genie that threatens to turn on its masters; from a growing collection of vocal special-interest groups who won't take no for an answer; from hard-bargaining developers and their inflexible NIMBY opponents, and from an electorate that increasingly demands Champagne amenities on a beer budget.
Still, as many candidates pointed out, despite its shortcomings, this is a community full of opportunity. Our kids have access to world-class recreation programs and coaching. Theatre, music and the visual arts are thriving. Supermarket shopping carts are brimming with groceries. Real estate prices are still affordable compared to the housing market on the Lower Mainland. To be sure, many residents do not share all the blessings the outdoor rec capital of the nation offers. And too many of us commute to work. The upside is that most people have jobs and they can feed themselves and their families.
Running for office requires considerable time, energy, and in some cases, financial resources. Those who have thrown their hats into the ring did so with the expressed purpose of furthering the well-being of this community. For that we commend them.
Let's remember that casting a ballot is the definitive gesture of gratitude to all the council and school trustee hopefuls who have participated in this election campaign.
