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Editorial: Informed choice

With local elections just over two weeks away, voters need to find out more about candidates and hopefuls need to get their messages out.

With local elections just over two weeks away, voters need to find out more about candidates and hopefuls need to get their messages out.

The people elected to City of Powell River council on November 19 will be the ones making decisions over the next three years about how tax dollars will be spent, the quality of the water, the condition of the roads, the efficiency of the sewer system, transit system and garbage pickup. Not only will they decide how much residents will pay in property taxes, they will determine where the money is spent, what capital projects to move forward, what services to provide or cut and what developments to approve or disapprove. They will be the ones listening to concerns and opinions. They will decide how the community looks, what projects move forward and which ones to stall. In the all important area of economic development, the new council will either enhance Powell River’s drive to diversify its economy or stand in the way and make it more difficult for small businesses to start up or existing ones to expand.

Over the next two and a half weeks, voters have an opportunity to scrutinize candidates, ask questions and make an informed decision when they go to the polls on November 19. It’s up to the candidates to reach out to voters, make themselves available to answer questions and provide information about themselves.

All-candidates meetings are excellent venues to gain more information about candidates. Voters can observe how candidates can, or can’t, think on their feet, listen to what their vision is for the community and ask questions that all have to answer.

City voters have an opportunity to attend two all-candidates meetings. Unfortunately, voters in Electoral Area B of the Powell River Regional District won’t have that opportunity because the incumbent is not interested in attending a meeting.

Powell River needs smart government to meet the challenges of the next three years. The community deserves local governments that are inclusive, open and flexible. That takes strong, intelligent and talented elected officials.

One of the more curious aspects of democracy in Canada is the traditional low voter turnout in local government elections. Even though cities, municipalities and regional districts are the closest governments to people, they seem to attract the lowest percentage of voters.

Hopefully, voter turnout will be strong in the 2011 civic election. The differences between candidates should become clearer over the next two and a half weeks as they define their platforms and campaign for support. This is a good time for voters to pay attention.