LAST MONTH on CFJC Today, Bill McQuarrie talked about what voters can expect in the upcoming election campaign.
He got out his crystal ball and predicted certain topics that will be up for debate.
I’m going to expand on that with a little bit of advice on who to vote for.
Not actual names of candidates, mind you, but characteristics in candidates you should be looking for.
First, put some stock into a candidate’s experience — but not too much stock.
The most successful councillors in the past have had a wide range of ages and life experiences.
It’s far more helpful to look at a candidate’s level of energy and enthusiasm for the job than the experience section of their resume.
Don’t make the mistake of believing someone is unqualified for the job based on their gender, age, race, sexual orientation or economic standing.
Listen to their words and determine what they are willing to do for this city.
Don’t vote for someone who wants to pit parts of the city against each other, talking about ill-conceived notions like ward systems.
Alderman Gordon Bregoliss remembers when we had a ward system after amalgamation.
Bregoliss says council was beset with infighting because every councillor was solely interested in their own neighbourhood, and no one had any concern about what’s good for the city as a whole.
A ward system will see backroom deals, one vote exchanged for another, rather than consultation and collaboration.
Finally, don’t vote for someone who is imbalanced in their anger about past decisions of council.
You can be upset, but focusing your anger in the past doesn’t give you a plan for the future.
Candidates should have to explain, in a coherent and detailed way, how they would do things differently.
The flip side of the coin?
Do vote for someone who is optimistic and hopeful, not only for the future of Kamloops, but for the role city hall can play in the lives of Kamloopsians.
There will be plenty of cynicism to go around.
On October 20, vote for candidates you see as a breath of fresh air.
