Moose Jaw is only days away from electing a mayor to fill the vacancy left following the recent federal election.
The signs for most of the nine candidates are here and there throughout the city, and some are even placed beside Rosedale Cemetery. I suspect the intention is to draw the attention of travellers along that stretch of Caribou Street West, but at first glance I couldn’t help but smile at the irony of including our deceased loved ones in the mayoral campaign. Ghosts of elections past perhaps!
This column was written before I was able to hear the candidates answer questions through the virtual forum held Oct. 21, thanks to the Moose Jaw & District Chamber of Commerce. Many of the questions to be posed were circulated to the candidates in advance so they could prepare their answers. I suspect those answers matched the platform literature and advertisements the candidates have been leaving in mailboxes and posting on social media platforms.
Having helped organize election forums in past years, I have to admit I don’t like the idea of the questions being known in advance. I much prefer the idea of candidates thinking on their feet as they must do if they are to properly represent the citizen’s best interests. The winner’s term of office cannot be choreographed in advance and the campaign forum should not let the potential winner go away with the idea he/she will always have time to prepare an answer.
During the campaign period, I’ve taken the opportunity to listen (eavesdrop) on conversations relating to the election campaign, and have gauged the interest levels as being low, which hopefully won’t translate into a lower than normal turnout for a byelection.
Topics of concern from those conversations seem to be garbage collection, levels of taxation, too much money being spent on Mosaic Place, dismal road conditions, water main replacement and lack of planning (William Grayson School area being mentioned as a head-scratcher) and lack of noticeable economic development.
If I had wormed my way into those chat sessions I would have wanted to expand the discussion to include the following questions to be asked of the candidates:
• The mayor only has one vote. How then do you propose to accomplish all the promises you are making?
• What are your thoughts on a ward system for Moose Jaw? Citizens in the past have said “No” but is this something you would promote?
• Is Mosaic Place a money pit to the taxpayers? What do you think of the third party management agreement?
• Would you be in favour of privatizing the city transit system and garbage collection?
• Are you in favour of hiring the RCMP to police Moose Jaw rather than having our own police service?
• Some candidates are allowing their campaign workers or family members to answer voters’ questions. As mayor will you answer questions yourself or will you defer to the city manager or communications manager?
• Do you support in-camera meetings for discussions beyond personnel and property topics? If you are truly opposed to so many in-camera meetings would you stop attending them to live up to your promise of transparency?
• Are you running because of the increase in pay for the office?
This business of being mayor is not for the faint-hearted and obviously nine individuals feel they each have the qualifications and the stamina to carry out the job.
Moose Jaw deserves strong leadership, someone able to stand up to city administration, someone who will indeed answer phone calls and e-mails and accept invitations to attend events in the community — even if there might not be a photo opportunity involved.
Let’s get out and vote and ensure that the best person gets the job.
Joyce Walter can be reached at [email protected]
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
