The Similkameen News Leader
Editorial
August 05, 2008
THE RE-ELECTION GAME
Oddly enough, I've had more than one Town Council hopeful come into my office over the past week asking my advice on how to best tackle local issues going into the upcoming Municipal Election.
While I'm somewhat confused as to why my advice has any value in this situation, I have decided to publish my top two tips on how NOT to get re-elected in the November 2011 Municipal Election. Let me explain the strategy behind this very simple to follow plan. The next Town Council goes into office December 2008. They will have a very important three year term ahead of them and if they do the right things during that term, they will be re-elected in November 2011 so I want to focus on what could go wrong in that time frame to basically derail any possible re-election possibility as a deterrent and maybe, just maybe, we'll all get through this in pretty good shape.
Tip #1 - The Job Issue Okay, the copper mine will probably open in late 2010. A year later we're going back to the polls. A good way to NOT get re-elected is to not use the time between now and then to start developing residential property, unless, of course, you figure all those jobs are going to locals who already live here or are hiding in illegal suites. We may need 50 to 100 new homes in the next 18-months or sooner. How does Town Council fit into this? By giving developers incentives to build here. Election Newbies Note: This would make a pretty good election platform in 2008.
Tip #2 - The Industrial Park (or as I like to call it, the IP) Sure, it's going to get water, eventually. A great way to NOT get re-elected in 2011 is to put the IP on the back burner now that the mine is opening. What do we need extra industry for anyway? We usually just depend on one or two major employers to carry the town and always have. Here's the mistake: the mine has a projected 15 year life span. In that time the IP could have half a dozen non-related to mining or forestry businesses with 30 to 50 jobs per already established and spitting out widgets or hammers or whatever long before the last of the copper ore is mined. Once the mine shuts down, and it will one day (historically it's been closed longer than open) it won't cripple the community. Election Newbies Note: Leaving the IP alone until Year 14 of the mine's life, which would be 2024, would be a bad idea. Very bad, actually.
And there you have it, my top two tips on how NOT to get re-elected in 2011. Remember, let's have a clean fight with no hitting below the belt and let the games begin!
