Letter to the Editor: The Importance of All-Candidate Meetings
Empowering the Citizens of Lions Bay:
The Necessity of an All-Candidates Meeting
in the By-Election
Dear Editor,
As the Lions Bay by-election nears, our community faces a critical decision — choosing a candidate to represent our values and shape the village's future. Amidst increased polarization, it's crucial for us as citizens to make informed decisions. An all-candidates meeting can provide a democratic platform for voters to engage with candidates personally and intellectually. In so doing, we must not lose sight of the fact that each candidate has bravely stepped forward to serve our community, and that we are all neighbours in a small village.
All-candidates events allow voters to hear candidates' stances side-by-side, compare visions for Lions Bay, and assess their suitability to lead. Providing a forum for open discussion, all-candidates meetings break down barriers and foster unity among constituents and neighbours. They also offer insights into candidates' priorities, ideas, and long-term goals, enabling informed decisions on May 6.
All-candidates meetings encourage healthy competition and accountability. Candidates must articulate their positions and defend their ideas, resulting in better-informed policies and a stronger democratic process. In our fast-paced digital world, it's easy to get lost in social media noise. An all-candidates meeting brings democracy back to its roots — face-to-face interactions, open dialogue, and informed decision-making.
By supporting and attending such a meeting, we can confidently cast informed votes and elect the right candidate to lead our community. It is crucial for the Village to organize an all-candidates meeting, with both candidates and their campaigns collaborating to make it happen. As community members and neighbours, we must demand this event, ensuring our voices are heard and our concerns addressed. Only through active participation and open dialogue can we empower our community and shape Lions Bay Village's future.
Sincerely,
Ehsan Monfared,
Concerned Village Resident
The Watershed reserves the right to edit submissions for brevity, clarity and content.
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Hi, I am Emilie Montgomery a 31 year resident. I think it is fortunate that we have 2 highly qualified, enthusiastic and caring residents running for political office. I think it is disappointing to me that one of the interviewees has negative comments about current council! These are the people she will have to work with, spend hours at a table with - a negative attitude about coworkers may not be a good start? My hope is that current mayor and council are allowed to do their job and make the Village a more fiscally efficient run place - Spending $1.454 million dollars on staff alone in 2021 - for a small village of 547 homes with no sewers an…
For many of us we do not need an all candidates meeting. The choice is very simple, we cannot vote for a friend of the mayor who will give him his desired control of council as well as control--through his friends who he employed there--of the office. We need balance otherwise residents will have no voice and no village left at all. Jaime already has my vote.
At the Apr 4th council meeting interim CAO/CFO Ron Miller was directed by Council to contact a neutral independent facilitator for a village directed all candidates meeting. This apparently was not followed through as evidenced by David Shore's comments below.
I'd like to clarify some facts...
A couple of weeks ago I contacted the village office to find out what dates had been arranged for the all candidates meeting. I was told that the village office was advised not to run these events by the ministry of elections to avoid conflict. So I asked what dates would be available and the only weeknight that was not booked for other activities was April 25th, so I booked it.
My intent from the outset was to secure a venue for both candidates, with the same format we all experienced at the previous all candidates meeting (with the obvious reduction in time relative to two candidates versus 11). I reached out to the…
Both candidates should demand an impartial all- candidates meeting with a non-village resident host. Aren’t we working to reduce the fractures in the village and build trust? This isn’t the way to do so. Do better.