It is the season where bloggers, professional writers and even columnists are at a loss what to write. The topics hardly jump at you. Sure, there is the odd laugher—a two liner. What you are looking for is something meaty—at least 500 words. This means you need to cast a wide net.
There is certainly an increasing measure of interest in the mayoralty campaign here in Babel. Being personally involved in that endeavour, I could make some observations.
To comment on an election, it is important to understand the historical patterns in the area. On a cursory look, you would say there are no patterns in Babel but that in itself is a pattern. This is not a community that usually votes for anything. It most often votes against. When the federal Liberal Party once swept the entire province with the exception of one riding it was the riding that included Babel. The local provincial member was recently tossed out of office. He was defeated by a federal member who had herself felt the wrath of the voters and lost while a sitting cabinet minister.
The last three mayors lost their bids for re-election. They were thrown out of office. The current incumbent is said to be working up his nerve to run again. There is little question but that the electorate will want to see how many times he bounces on the way down Mulcaster Street after being turfed from the mayor’s office. There are those giving odds on the proposition that he will take the easy route and not run but there are some financial considerations that say ‘Why not?’ Everyone deserves a final hurrah!
The mayor has a stalking horse in one of the incumbent councillors who suddenly threw his hat into the mayoralty pool this summer. This came as a surprise to many whom he might have told of his plans. He is there to muddy the waters as he has little hope of being able to put together an effective organization nor the legally allowable funds needed to carry out a respectable campaign.
One of the front runners is presumed to be the former provincial member of the legislature. He is insulting the intelligence of Babel voters by building a 1990s style campaign that he learned from former Ontario Premier Mike Harris. His zero property tax growth policies are not only unrealistic but he does not seem to want to tell voters just what he would cut to achieve this wondrous state of affairs. Voters probably remember that the biggest hikes in property taxes in Babel were when the Harris government, most improperly, dumped welfare costs on Ontario’s municipalities.
The ghost in the campaign is the former mayor who has been licking his wounds for the past four years. He is looking for redemption. He could not understand why the voters were so mad at him in the last election. He is back for a recount. The bad news is that the figures are not going to get any better.
Nobody is ever a shoo-in in a municipal election but I like my choice’s chances. He is a very hard worker. He is smart. And he is in it for the long haul. He has already shown that he can do much for his city. He is an economist and while he and I do not always agree on issues, he has made some very good deals for Babel’s taxpayers. He has built a strong and knowledgeable campaign team and they are already showing what they can accomplish. He is earning the support of Babel voters.
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