The nomination period has closed and residents of Keremeos, the Lower Simlkameen and the South Okanagan now know whose names will be part of this year’s municipal election campaign.
Ontario also goes to the polls this year for municipal elections. A report from that province suggests that the high number of candidates running for office in some cities and towns there is the result of discontent and unrest over municipal taxation and fiscal policies.
This year, Keremeos has races for the mayor’s chair and for council seats, while interestingly enough, Princeton has no need at all for election night, after all the municipal positions were filled by acclamation.
Are the full ballots in Keremeos due to discontent? Does this mean Princeton residents are completely satisfied with their municipal governements?
We can’t deny there isn’t some discontent amongst some residents in the village, but not to any extreme that we can see.
It appears to us that Keremeos has a healthy democracy, where people are interested and active enough to challenge the status quo and run for their beliefs. People are running in support of their community, or in the belief that there ideas will improve life in the village.
At the same time, we have to wonder what the real reason is for Princeton’s candidate numbers, or lack thereof. Is it because people are satisfied with the status quo? Or is it because no one cares enough to challenge it?