Are You Ready to Debate?
With just a little over a month left before
the Municipal Election on October 25 (I know, where does the time
go?), it’s time to start the debating… In an official way, of course.The debates are being sponsored by the
Guelph Chamber of Commerce and Rogers TV and got underway yesterday with the
candidates for Ward 4 city councillors.
Missing the debates? Well you shouldn’t.
Our local Rogers station is covering them each live-to-air, direct from the debating
ground at the City Hall Council Chambers at 1 Carden St.
The format of each debate will be a combination of questions by written
submission from the audience, as well as submissions received in advance from
the business community. Candidates will be given one minute to answer each
question, as well each candidate will be given the opportunity for a one and
half minute opening statement and a one minute closing statement. This should
make for an interesting Ward 1 debate. Considering that there are 11 candidates
there should be just enough time for a total of three questions. But I kid Ward
1.
As for the rest of the schedule, the
debates will continue tonight with a double header featuring Ward 3 at 6 pm
and Ward 6 at 8 pm. The Ward 1 debate will go down next Thursday, September 30
with the Mayoral debate to follow on Tuesday October 5. The final
two debates will be another double feature on October 7 with Ward
2 taking place at 6 pm and Ward 5 taking place at 8 pm. For full debate coverage,
keep your eyes peeled to my Guelph Politico blog at http://guelphpolitico.blogpsot.com
Sign-less of the Times
In the midst of our heightened awareness of
these more environmentally-mined times, a number of candidates in this election
have decided to go “sign-less.” That is their campaign will not be putting up
any signs in favour of social media and old-fashioned door-to-door campaigning.
Ward 3 candidate Craig Chamberlain was one of the first to declare that he was
going sign free so that he could “lead by example” when it comes to focusing on
an affordable approach to city government. “My campaign is simple and direct,
and I have cut out the excesses of electioneering,” said a Chamberlain news
release.
Ward 1 candidate Allan Boynton declared last
week that he will also be going sign-less saying that he will “not be doing
signs on the side of the road, because I believe they are not environmentally
friendly and an eyesore to our great community.” Additionally, another Ward 3
candidate, Missy Tolton is also reportedly not putting up signs, and, like
Boynton, she’s running a campaign for under $1,000.
In the mayoral race, one candidate has also
taken the no-sign pledge. Ray Mitchell, former owner of the Family Thrift Store
and current owner of a downtown antiques store, joined the election race on the
final day of nominations. In what he calls a social experiment, Mitchell says
that he’s running a campaign without signs and without donations. “I believe
that election signs should be outlawed, as they serve no useful purpose and
give the rich an unfair advantage over the poor,” he told the Guelph Tribune.
Mitchell added that in our media savvy
world he hoped that modern technology and the media can help candidates
overcome a lack of campaign money. “In an increasingly tech-savvy world, and
with widespread media events like debates, I believe that a candidate can get
their message out at little or no cost, which will hopefully allow the
participation in future of more candidates who are limited financially,” he
said.
For full election coverage, check out
Guelph Politico at http://guelphpolitico.blogspot.com
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