Well, we now know that in Prince George, we will have choices to make in the municipal elections on October 15.
By the time the smoke cleared on Friday afternoon, the deadline for filing nomination papers, there were six people running for the mayor’s chair, 20 running for eight spots on council, and 13 in the race for five school board trustee positions.
The only people who aren’t facing a race on October 15 are Rachael Weber, in by acclamation for the Mackenzie position on the school board, and Bob Thompson, in the same position for the Robson Valley spot.
Even leading up to the nomination deadline, I noticed one thing in many of the candidates’ platforms, whichever post they were running for.
There was a lot of, “After I am elected, I am going to do this, that and the other thing.” Wrong.
The last time I checked, all of the candidates were running for mayor, city councillor or trustee. None of them were running for the position of dictator.
Yes, you may have some great ideas about what you would like to see happen if you are elected, but just because YOU want a certain thing to be done, doesn’t mean it will be.
You have to get the majority of the other members of the body you were elected to agreeing with your idea. Then it can happen.
Bringing your fantastic idea forward and having the other members of council or the school board point out a bunch of holes in it could happen. If it does, sitting in the middle of the council chambers and threatening to hold your breath until you turn blue probably isn’t going to sway many of them to your position. (It may make for great video on the Internet coverage of the meeting though.)
Even before you get to the point of trying to get other members of your board to agree with you, you may run into problems at some of the public candidates’ meetings which will be held between now and then. Again, just because someone in the audience questions the logic of your position doesn’t make them stupid because they don’t agree with you.
I would also like to point out something for the voters of Prince George. It’s something that is pointed out every election, but it bears repeating.
On council, the top eight vote-getters on election night are elected. On the school board, it’s the top five. That doesn’t mean you have to mark eight names on your council ballot or five for school board.
You can vote for UP TO eight people for council, and UP TO five for school trustee.
If you can’t find enough candidates you feel comfortable supporting, just vote for those you do support.
But do get out and vote, either in person on October 15 or at one of the many opportunities before then.