By Stephen Vance, Editor
As of this morning, The Meaford Independent has received replies from eight of the 17 candidates that have as of this week announced their intention to seek a seat on Meaford’s council.
We may still see some more candidates with the nomination deadline just a few weeks away, in fact, while writing this column, I received an email from the municipal Clerk with a new addition to the candidate’s list – current Councillor Barb Clumpus will take on fellow Councillor Deborah Young, and former Councillor Jim McPherson for the Mayor’s chair at the council table.
The responses coming back from candidates with our information request package have been impressive in their depth of replies to our questions, and the answers from candidates thus far have been thoughtful and detailed, though if a theme were to be formulating this early in the game for specific issue questions submitted by our readers, it might be called “hedging” or “wishy-washy”.
Candidates are wisely not committing to a definite answer with regard to which police service should serve and protect Meaford given that a consultant’s report is still to be presented to council, and the newly announced revised billing model from the OPP will need some thorough examination, however candidates are also less than willing to commit to a position on the concept of a ward system, or the ever-divisive wind turbine issue.
Most of the candidates appear to have a good grasp on the actual job of an elected municipal councillor, and that is a positive sign. There is nothing worse than a municipal councillor that has no idea of what the scope of their job (and their power) entail.
The list of candidates thus far is impressive in its diversity with candidates from both urban and rural sections of our municipality, and the ages and backgrounds of the candidates run the spectrum. Young candidates like Jaden Calvert and incumbent James McIntosh, seasoned community volunteers like Evelyn Dean and Shirley Keaveney, experienced councillors like Lynda Stephens and Mike Poetker, along with lesser known candidates like Noreen Hunter Riley, Timothy Traut, Glen Tichbourne, and Steven Bartley, as well as former Meaford Fire Chief, Steve Nickels, and Legion member Tony Bell provide Meaford voters with a wide range of choice – and there might be still more to come.
As August fades into September, the campaigns will no doubt kick into high gear, and then the fun really begins.
Candidate responses to our information package request are just the first step in them helping you to decide who to vote for on October 27. We all know that what can look extremely good on paper, doesn’t necessarily perform well in the field. We’ll be watching, reporting on, and analyzing the performance of candidates between now and election day, and candidates will have plenty of opportunity to back up what they’ve put in writing.
As for voters – take every opportunity you can to learn about the candidates so that you can make an informed decision in October.
