This is an election year for Local Governments - town and city councils, school boards and regional districts.
I can almost hear the groans rumbling through cyberspace, as if the 15 minutes it’s going to take you to head down to the voting station and cast your ballot once every three - now four - years is the absolute worst thing you’ve ever faced.
(If that’s the case, then you’ve led a charmed life, indeed!)
I always look forward to voting, the change to express my opinion on who can best represent my opinions at a political level. Thousands have fought, and are still fighting, and many have died to win this right that we take for granted.
If you’ve ever complained about a pothole, the weeds in your neighbour’s yard, the lack of jobs, the price of a loaf of bread, the state of our schools, our hospitals, or government spending, then you’ve expressed an interest in the political scene.
If you don’t think that politics interests you, perhaps you don’t understand what “politics” is. Politics is the consideration of subjects that affect our lives. As our politicians debate an issue, they should be keeping in mind the wishes of the people who elected them.
Not easy when we all have a difference of opinion. And keeping in mind the limitations of a budget, as well as previous decisions made along with future plans.
If we feel that our politicians are failing us, maybe we need to take more interest in what they’re doing, or not doing.
Local Government Election Day is Nov. 15, 2014. However, with more than a week of Advanced Polls these days, we may as well simply call it the last day of voting.
Nomination papers are available as of Aug. 22 in the Village Offices, or even online at their official websites.
Nomination period begins Sept. 30, so you have lots of time to work up the courage to stand for public office. Nominations close Oct. 10 and then the campaigning begins.
Be grateful that we have a peaceful and sound system of government that we are expected to be a part of.
Wendy Coomber is editor of the Ashcroft-Cache Creek Journal