The Similkameen News Leader
Editorial
November 11, 2008
DO YOUR PART
By the time you read this I will have already voted in the Municipal Election. I took advantage of the advance poll thinking I could avoid a crowd on November 15th and once I cast my ballot(s) the guess work would be over for me.
My decision being made, I now have to stick with it. No last minute campaigning can change my mind now.
Now that I've voted I can finally say it.
I'm insulted.
I am insulted as a voter by how this election campaign has gone.
I am insulted by the lack of respect shown to voters in Princeton and Area H by some of the candidates.
And I'm insulted as a resident of Princeton in how so many election signs have been moved, stolen, relocated and destroyed during this election campaign.
Now the other side of the coin.
I'm impressed with the interest shown in this election. Never in the history of this community has there been so many candidates seeking the chance to contribute to their community and possibly assist in the future growth of the area.
I'm also impressed with the interest shown by voters who virtually filled one venue and packed another to listen to and possibly learn something from the candidates at forums held during the election campaign.
I'm also impressed with the voter turn out at the advance polls. It says something about the voters in the area. Say it's a desire for change, but I think it's more related to the fact that voters in the area are finally interested in what happens to their community.
One thing that still bothers me about these kinds of elections is that there will still be a number of voters who won't take this seriously and will either not bother to vote or
'throw away their vote' once in the polling place.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. This next three-year term will be a huge milestone in the history of our community. It will be the term that will be remembered as the one that was in place when the copper mine re-opened. It will be remembered as the term that took place during the Olympics in Vancouver. It will be remembered as the term that saw completion of a number of projects started by the current term. It will be remembered as a very important three year section of Princeton's history and my only hope is that voters realize this and vote with their brains and not out of spite, anger, disgust, fear or whatever negative emotion you can attach to it.
I hope voters will cast ballots for one Area H Director, one Mayor and four Councillors and put in place the right combination of people who will take our community into the future and accomplish huge goals along the way.
I hope we end up with the right council for the times.
I hope you also feel the same way on November 15th.
