Wow, what an election!
To those who ran, kudos for stepping up and staying up for round after round of campaigning.
Running for local government, especially in Squamish with its passionate citizenry, is like a crazy obstacle course of flames that candidates have to run through for the reward of another four-year obstacle course of bigger flames.
One thing this election has shown is that while our local social media can be a tire fire, the most cutting and extreme views are not representative of the whole, as the results show.
It also demonstrated that no matter how hard the government, candidates, local leaders or fellow-citizens try, about half of Squamish’s eligible voters won’t go to the polls. But, we did much better than some communities. The City of North Vancouver saw 34 per cent of registered voters take to the polls, while Whistler’s turnout was 32.46 per cent. And we didn’t light anyone on fire this time, as we did in 2014 when stuntman and outgoing Coun. Peter Kent set himself ablaze to get voters out.
The community owes thanks to Patricia Heintzman, Susan Chapelle, Ted Prior, Jason Blackman-Wulff and Kent for what they each brought to council chambers. Each of their names will go down in history as the relative few among us who stepped up to serve Squamish and determine its future.
To Karen Elliott and Doug Race, welcome back!
Good luck to the outgoing and incoming council members as they move through this transition of power. We hope you are kind to yourselves and each other.
The Chief is going through its own transition. Our reporter Haley Ritchie is on her way back to Ontario. We wish her well in whatever her future holds. She will be missed.
And this is my last “Editor’s” column as I shift to full-time, senior reporter on Nov. 1.
I will be back in council chambers, writing about what happens and doesn’t through this term.
I chose early in this election season to follow in the footsteps of other journalists I admire and not vote. The accusation of bias is so easy to throw around and I wanted to be sure for myself, the candidates and council, that there was no question of my role as observer — I literally can’t wait to start doing just that again.
Returning from maternity leave, Michaela Garstin will be back in the editor’s chair. We are happy to have her back both in Squamish and at her desk.
Over the past 14 months, I loved having tbe challenge to head up the newsroom, but I am looking forward to again pursuing my first love — reporting.
For The Chief, the council and the town, it is time to move forward into this new season — we’re a little older and a little wiser and hoepfully, even more resolved to do what is best for our community. We’ve got this.
