MEET THE CANDIDATES - A WET NOODLE AFFAIR BEST FORGOTTEN

Instead of a barn-burner debate, we got a high school election pitch. It was as soft as a T-Bone in a blender. Nothing to lead the candidates to commit anything more than “geez I promise I won’t screw up with your money.” Jesus, do you know how many times we’ve heard those canned responses. The questions at this evening’s fun-fest were ineffective and so non-inflammatory, the answers so vague and injected with election promises, that the only way a voter could have been stimulated is to have fallen asleep and hit their forehead on the person in front. The only positive was a full audience at the Opera House. Too bad nothing happened other than air was expended and it cost taxpayers money to have all the house lights on. I’ve been to more vibrant Christenings. The sponsors were probably delighted with the event and undoubtedly its outcome. I’m not sure what banked headline front-pager is going make the weekly news but at best....and I mean best, “a good time was had by all” at the community picnic without the food.

You would never know that this was a preamble event, a pitch to the electorate, to allow candidates to represent our multi-million dollar corporation. The event should have matched the seriousness of the election, and the grave situation we face with our deficit. Think about what it would take, if as a candidate applying to work for Donald Trump, if this was the test of endurance, competence, and counter-point. Well, how many do think would have been fired? A lot! I think there was a will on the part of candidates to let it all hang out but they didn’t get a chance to do anything more than sputter a few obtuse observations and outline several planks from their platform before the magic bell.

No speeches. No debate. There was a wholesome grip and grin, meet and greet, after all the pleasantries had concluded. Nothing of substance because the candidates weren’t put on the spot, by having to face tough questions, demanding something of an actual thought process and a critical, articulate response.....anything.

I think the candidates themselves should have kicked up a fuss, (and if need be, boycotted the evening social) demanding that they be able to present a short speech, introducing themselves and their platform, and then asked a series of general questions, before being sent bravely or cowering into the lion’s den, to answer questions from pissed off ratepayers (who were in attendance)......the ones filling the Opera House with their faces hanging out......lusting for the opportunity to make the event memorable, and accomplishing something other than “Good to see you again!”

Several candidates recognized my chagrin. Hands over my face. Head hitting the wall. Trying to imagine how, beyond this artificial safe-haven, real life can turn so ugly five steps out of this building.....when critically important issues are debated every day of the freaking year, with no holds barred....because that’s what we do. When there’s more debate on the street, the coffee shops, on the park benches, and in places of business, please tell me what this love-in represented in any scheme of things. There were two candidates who tried to make the “pageant of non-aggressive actions and reactions,” interesting, and “thanks for sparking things a tad.”

There is something wrong here and it showed its face at this meeting. Apathy. An unwillingness to appreciate that the soft touch on the part of the electorate, for the last seven years, is our fault. Not councillors. Not the Mayor. We let it happen. We accepted inefficient governance. And if the folks who attended this meeting, feel this week’s pre-election event was anything warmer than tepid, gads, are we screwed. Even they’ve forgotten what fire in the belly feels like.

The bottom line here is simple. The new Mayor and Council will know what it’s like to dance with stress.....dip with pressure, and realize sooner or later, the caress of pre-election didn’t prepare them for anything more than photo ops and ribbon cutting.......not the true responsibilities they will face shortly after being sworn-in. That’s unfortunate. There was an opportunity once.....but it was lost by ridiculous protocol.