Were this year’s nomination dates for civic elections moved up from years past? Typically nomination deadlines occurred in a snow storm with icy streets. This year nominations closed September 14. Fresh snow whitened the peaks of surrounding mountains – that at least fitted the pattern of other years — but the temperature was well above freezing. A flock of cedar waxwings arrived to feast on desiccated saskatoons clinging in the topmost branches.
Will we be voting in a month to elect a new slate of civic leaders from school trustees to mayor to regional district representatives for four year terms? Or will most of the seats be filled by acclamation? Acclamation saves the financial cost of holding an election but is the least satisfactory way to fill seats. It lets the acclaimed conclude the citizenry is perfectly satisfied with their views. This may or may not be true.
More likely the prospect of an election went unnoticed; no one stood for election. I can recall in 1980, about the time our teachers went on strike, most of the people I spoke with had no inkling an election was in the offing. Would today’s electronic media improve voter awareness?
How many brave souls who filed nomination papers are reconsidering if they did the right thing? Serving in public office involves not only the elected individual but their entire family in one way or another.
Right off the top, there’s the four-year commitment, up from an original two years, then raised to three. That’s a lengthy tour of duty even if they can expect to dodge only criticism, not bullets. And now with social media and other insidious means, detractors can too easily criticize or complain about an official’s performance.
One mayor’s son told of constituents phoning to criticize his father as early as 6 a.m., or whenever they met the mayor on his private time.
Whether school board, city council or regional district, many meetings end close to midnight, some even later. Then there’s the transient nature when several times a year the meeting is moved to some outlying area to be closer to distant taxpayers. This can involve an hour drive to, and an equally long drive home. So much for an early sleep to rest up for next day’s employment.
Except for mayors, elected officials usually have full time jobs. Each receives a stipend and reimbursement for mileage costs if they drive their own car, but not enough to support a family.
If, once home in bed, they can turn off their thoughts and not re-hash the meeting item by item … congratulations. Perhaps this is easier done by older people who have served in these roles for decades. Do they take things more in stride, having seen these scenarios reenacted umpteen times over the years? More than likely, though, inexperienced representatives think, “Damn. I should have said this,” or, “I should have said that”, and grab a bedside notebook to jot a morning reminder .
I served two years as a school trustee 38 years ago. Our daughters were young teens who coped with my evening absences. My husband stepped in as cook if I had an early meeting. And I was self-employed working at home; if I was groggy next morning, or distracted by thoughts of the previous night’s discussions, only my family knew. But my most vivid memory is navigating icy streets to the neighbour’s in a snowstorm to have my nomination papers signed.