Once again, council watchdog and candidate Terrill Patterson is bang on, and being one who publicly advocated a referendum on WFLNG myself, I agree with his observation that the lack of it now results in shifting the focus on the candidates, putting them and their opinion on this issue to a referendum instead.
This is problematic, because it does not follow that a candidate is “good” or “bad” simply because he or she happens to agree or disagree with one’s own position on the LNG issue. Whether candidates are “for” or “against” should not obscure recognition of their overall motivation for having stepped forward to run: To foremost make a contribution to the wellbeing and future of our town and its residents. Doubtlessly that would include a lot more than just a particular stand on LNG in Squamish.
Make no mistake however; WFLNG is an important issue in this election despite our future council’s limited influence and manoeuvrability in that regard. It is exemplified by the continuing strong public interest and the surprisingly frank responses by most of our council candidates when The Squamish Chief was questioning them about it. The recognition of forthrightness here generating more trust, perhaps?
Terrill astutely notes an overall bias against the project among candidates “for fear of losing support,” he thinks. Could this reading, also combined with significant hedging on the “yes” side, be in response to changes in the demographics of Squamish and correspondingly altered expectations? The election results will tell.
That some candidates hedged their answers matters less than their willingness of letting voters know about their personal bias or preference. As to the handful still sitting on the fence – and it is easy to spot them by their evasive answers and stock phrases – they fail to see that leadership also demands analytical and decision-making skills, including the courage of defending one’s convictions, even if not popular.
To abstract from Elijah Dann’s column “Philosopher’s Corner” in a recent edition of The Squamish Chief: By their timidity in this, be it by professing yet insufficient information or simply by hiding behind other subterfuge, they are shirking responsibility and clearly flunking the “litmus test” for suitability for office. No matter what else they may pledge, how much credibility can it be accorded, given such reluctance of “coming out” on an issue agitating the community for months? Again, a question of trust.
Wolfgang Wittenburg
Squamish
Wolfgang Wittenburg does not work for Terrill Patterson’s campaign or have a political affiliation with him.
