Comox Valley voters have a terrible record of turning out to vote in municipal elections, yet who we elect to our local governments has a more direct and impactful effect on our daily lives. Let’s turn that around this year
Comox Valley voters go to the polls tomorrow, Oct. 20, to elect mayors, councillors, rural regional district directors and school board trustees.
People have said this year’s election is historic because there are so many open seats on the Courtenay and Comox councils. People have said the Courtenay election pits former council members, those who have served in the not-so-recent past, against a wave of younger newcomers anxious to make their mark on a blossoming city.
But the truth is that every election matters. Every election is important. Every municipal election has an impact on the future of our communities and the Comox Valley as a whole. Who will elect has a direct effect on our lives.
Democracy works best when everyone participates. Not everyone can run for elected office, but everyone can vote. When voters don’t turn out, they get a government that doesn’t fully represent them. Sadly, Comox Valley voters have a poor record of voting in municipal elections.
In 2014 only 31 percent of eligible voters turned out in Courtenay; 41 percent in Comox, 41 percent in Cumberland, 31 percent in Electoral area A, 27 percent in Area B and just a meager 19 percent in Area C.
Decafnation hopes more voters turn out this year. Ask your friends if they’ve voted. Tell them where to vote and when. Use social media to generate excitement about voting among your Facebook or Instagram community. Talk about the candidates today so that others might vote tomorrow.
Remember, it’s acceptable and strategic to only vote for the council candidates you really love. You don’t have to vote for six in Comox and Courtenay, or four in Cumberland.
Decafnation has recommended candidates in all but the school board races. They are pictured above, and here’s a handy list to take to the polls with you.
Courtenay: Mayor Bob Wells, Councillors Melanie McCollum, Will Cole-Hamilton, Wendy Morin, David Frisch, Doug Hillian and Deana Simpkin.
Cumberland: Mayor Leslie Baird, Councillors Jesse Ketler, Gwyn Sproule, Roger Kishi and Sean Sullivan.
Comox: Mayor Tom Diamond, Councillors Nicole Minions, Alex Bissinger, Patrick McKenna, Stephanie McGowan, Maureen Swift and Chris Haslett
Regional District: Area A, Daniel Arbour; Area B, Arzeena Hamir; and, Area C, Edwin Grieve.
Who are your favorite candidates? Whoever they are, go vote for them tomorrow.
Yes folks should you want to really have a say then get up , get out and invest in our futures.
After a decade or so of IT evolution and Social Media revolution it niggles at me that the “untried solution” to engaging a higher turnout…..remains untried!
Surely by now the folks who flourish in IT could have presented us in midterm with an “APP”….. one of those funky, functional instant portals of pleasure that bring state of the art safety and security through which I/We can access our money, our records, our entertainment, our families; near and far and they are updated magically while we sleep!
Picture the over-whelming response to an election from a populace rising to the day, coffee/beverage in hand, in the comfort of hearth and home; leisurely checking off their choices, getting a “slot” , a confirmation, a secure acknowledgment by the Electoral Team; you Voted, its official, no ruined ballot…. it took 15minutes on a sunny Saturday morning and … by suppertime…who knows we could be eating supper under a new regime confirmed by IT super collation…..
Not science fiction just ……missing! like the 200mph carburetor of the 50’s! Mind boggling in the new millenium. Time to bike!
Yes get out and vote! Lots of choices in every jurisdiction.
I’m wondering how voters are motivated to get out and vote. It seems that they have to be very impressed with a candidate’s work in the past term , or not very impressed.
Great to see that there has been a positive campaign by all candidates in CVRD areas A,B, C.
One candidate stands out as problem solver- with a proven record of working for people, crossing jurisdictional boundaries on behalf of all rural residents.
He is not on your list, but he has my vote.