When you buy a lottery ticket, you know the odds against winning, but you say, “If you don’t play, you can’t win.”
Now, ask what you think the odds are against picking a city councillor who will act on your needs.
If you have such a councillor, then offer your vote again.
But, if you are truly put off by those skinny houses, or the bike lanes or the traffic-delaying LRT plans or the bridge fiascos, or how the City of Champions was handled, then how do you know who will do better?
I have said in the past that I don’t appreciate those who see an opportunity and shout, “Pick, pick me!”
I think a better plan is for a group of citizens to see someone they trust and approach them about running, promising full support.
And, their campaigning should start a year before, not on nomination day.
With a list of names on the ballot you may not know, are you more likely to choose the one name you’ve heard on the news?
If so, it’s just more of the same — which can be good or bad.
If you want change, you need to make time to attend the debates and make sure you are not just buying another lottery ticket.
Let me know how you choose the right candidate.
Bob Layton is the news manager of the Corus Edmonton group of radio stations and a commentator for Global News.
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