By Stephen Vance, Staff
With another new candidate for Meaford’s council announced last week, the race for the October 27 municipal election is heating up.
The Meaford Independent congratulates and thanks all candidates for choosing to seek election to Meaford’s council. All currently announced candidates have been sent an information request package, and many of our readers have expressed curiosity about what we’ve asked candidates.
Following are the questions we’ve asked candidates seeking a seat on Meaford’s council, and why we asked the question.(we will start publishing their responses on our website next week)
In less than 200 words, explain your primary reasons for your decision to seek election to Meaford council:
At The Independent we feel that this is an important question to ask any candidate, in any election. If the voters can know what motivated a candidate to seek election to Meaford’s council, it can give some insight into what might or might not motivate the candidate should they be elected.
In your view, what should be the top priorities for the council that is elected on October 27?
Priorities can often be subjective, and voters should know what candidates feel are the top priorities for the municipality. If a candidate’s priority list is in line with the voter’s priority list, it could help voters decide on who they would like to elect.
Please describe your community involvement over the last four years.
A track record of community involvement can be an indicator of the amount of effort a candidate would put into the job of councillor. Candidates with extensive community involvement could also have a better grasp of issues important to those in the community, and they can also tend to have good working relationships with community members.
Explain the role of councillor (or Mayor/Deputy Mayor) as you understand it.
This for us at The Independent is the most important question to ask any candidate seeking election to council. A full and complete understanding of the role of municipal councillors and the scope of their duties and responsibilities is crucial, and surprisingly, some candidates in the 2010 municipal election had a rudimentary or no understanding about the actual role of a municipal councillor.
What skills do you feel you will bring to Meaford council?
As with any job interview, the boss (the voters) want to know what skills a candidate is hoping to bring to the council chamber.
At The Meaford Independent, we value the input and thoughts of our readers (whether we agree with them or not), so we asked our readers to submit questions for candidates.
Our Reader Questions For Municipal Election Candidates
Dear Candidate,
The Ontario government, through the Ontario Power Authority, has expressed intentions to continue awarding contracts under the new Large Renewable Procurement program which replaces the Large Feed In Tariff program. The OPA has been instructed to procure 300 MW of new wind power in each of the next two years. A key element in any new proposed wind development will be a Municipal Support Resolution from council. As a member of council, what are your feelings regarding the construction of a large wind farm in in Meaford such as the proposed 48MW Silcote Corners wind farm? Thank you.
Gary and Cathy Chambers, Annan
Dear Candidate,
Are you in favour of or opposed to moving to a ward system of electing municipal councillors, with two each for St. Vincent, Sydenham and the town of Meaford?
Many thanks,
Doug Miller, Annan
Dear Candidate,
If you were asked at this time what your recorded vote would be for OPP or Owen Sound policing what would be your choice? With that, the reason for your vote would be desired.
Have a really great day
Jo-Ann Craig, Meaford
As we did in the 2010 municipal election, we again offer candidates the opportunity to get their message out to the public via our ‘Candidate’s Corner’ section on our online newspaper. All candidates are welcome to submit their platforms or opinions on issues for publication online.
