Avoiding post-election blisters

Editorial

In the 2014 municipal election, 62.76 percent of Madawaska Valley voters participated. This compares to the provincial average which, according to Wikipedia, was 43.12 percent. This demonstrated a commendable commitment to the electoral process on the part of this community but it begs the question, will there be a similarly impressive turnout this time around?

In 2014 there were thirteen candidates for council and two candidates for mayor. That degree of involvement and competition inevitably increased interest with more signage, more promotion, more knocking on doors, etc. There was also a spirited, well-attended all candidates meeting. This time around, however, there are only five competing for the four places on council and three candidates for mayor. This creates the risk that there will be less interest and involvement, but I sincerely hope not. There are still local issues and challenges no less serious than those faced by voters in 2014.

There may be fewer candidates this time, but voters still have questions. To keep the conversation flowing, The Current provides an online forum – a virtual “Town Hall” if you will.

This way you can submit questions or points of view to the candidates, individually or collectively, inviting their public response. Full details are in the accompanying article entitled Municipal election “Town Hall” forum. (Click HERE to visit.)

Let us hope that voter participation in the Madawaska Valley remains high. As Abraham Lincoln famously said,

Elections belong to the people. It’s their decision. If they turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, they will just have to sit on their blisters.