By John Chenier
An honour? A duty? A pain? Whatever. There is no getting around the fact that anyway you view it, voting is important. It is also important to know what you are voting for when you mark your X on the ballot next to a name. The Echo has posed a series of questions to all the candidates for mayor, councillor and school trustee in the hope that you will find the answers they gave useful in arriving at your decision of who would be your best representative.
Many people have put their names and policy positions forward for you to consider. Most are serious in their intent and deserve our thanks for putting their ideas and concerns out there. Even those who have done so in jest — such as Greg Jreg Guevara whose main platform plank for mayor is for Ottawa to separate from the rest of Canada — offer an option and a reason to vote.
It is likely that no candidate will share your views on all the issues, but the reality is, one of them will be elected. Acting on the premise that a half a loaf is better than none, you will be better off voting for the one that best suits your position on the issues that matter to you.
Hungry for change
The overwhelming reason given by the candidates for running in this election is to change the way Ottawa is working — which, perhaps, doesn’t say much for the legacy of the outgoing mayor and council. But the changes proposed by the candidates — what’s broken and needs to be fixed — lead off in all directions.
If you want a say in the direction our city and our community take in the next few years, this is the election to do it. The candidates have done their part by putting their name on the ballot; the Echo has tried to do its part by posing questions on issues important to Lowertown. The rest is up to you.