Where's the zip? Where's the cut and thrust of debate? This municipal election campaign continues to fizzle and sputter like an array of water-soaked Halloween fireworks. With a little more than two weeks to go before we cast our ballots, there is a discernable element of candidate lethargy and voter apathy in the Shining Valley.
Then again, municipal elections have always lacked the broad appeal of federal or provincial campaigns, with their high-voltage issues, compelling personalities and media attention. And therein lies the rub, because the seven people we send to muni hall will have more of an immediate impact on the community than the solo MP or MLA we install in Ottawa or Victoria.
The pharaohs of Second Avenue will be called on to keep a sharp and wary eye on the collection and allocation of millions of tax dollars and the future direction of landmark projects like the Squamish Oceanfront development with its revolving door of spin-gurus.
Unlike many similar high-level decision-making positions in the private sector, council aspirants are not required to have a predetermined aptitude for the job. No specific level of education, training or background is stipulated. In fact, there are few restrictions barring candidates from applying. The upside is no single profession, or special interest group, can monopolize the political agenda. We end up with a broad range of opinions and options.
This time a smorgasbord of candidates have tossed their hats into the ring, including a Hollywood stuntman, various self-styled consultants, a long-term resident who lays claim to being "trained to lead and trained to listen," a "strategic planner and leader in large multi-national corporations," a forestry worker, a lawyer, a stay-at-home dad, a few developers, a golf-industry worker with a diploma in Turf Grass, an IT support worker, and the list goes on.
As much as this campaign has been low key, so far, it has also been unique because of the social media element. With sites like Squamish Speaks, mysquamish.com, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook, council hopefuls have more opportunities than ever to connect with the electorate. Several have entered the electronic arena with a coherent platform that gains more traction with every social media posting and exchange.
But let's remember, opportunity only counts when it is seized. Less than half of the candidates are fully engaged with the new media. And some still appear to be "winging it" with well-worn clichés like "Squamish is an exciting community," or "Squamish is fractured," or that ultimate campaign come-on, "The community sits on the cusp of change."
To be fair, there is a good chance this lingering fuzziness will be firmed up during all-candidates' meetings and other gatherings. As well, recent candidate forums in The Chief related to a variety of issues, including the contentious Oceanfront development, have been informative.
All the same, with a double-digit roster of municipal candidates whose platforms and level of commitment are all over the roadmap, the voting public will have to separate the contenders from the pretenders in a hurry.
