The 2017 municipal election is less than three months away and surprisingly few candidates have expressed interest in running for the next term.
While we are hopeful there will be a surge of announcements through August, now is the time to consider whether the political life is for you.
It’s a thankless job that requires a lot of time and commitment without much financial reward. It is also a massive responsibility. The payoff is the opportunity to serve the public interest and help shape the direction and future of Cochrane.
This coming election is going to be a big one for the community. With the recent announcement that our population has surpassed 26,000 and a targeted growth to 40,000 more – around 890 people per year – by 2062 this might be a turning point term for the community.
Development is likely to be the biggest item on the campaign trail. That is not just the question of whether Cochrane should continue to grow, but what it requires now to meet the needs of a population that has soared over the past 10 years.
Road improvements are likely top of mind for many people, but there is and will be need for more schools, emergency services coverage, recreation facilities, etc.
If one were to canvass the town, opinions regarding how to manage everything from taxation to development to scooping dog waste to backyard chickens would be numerous and varied.
Therein lies the greatest challenge of any elected official: How does the town best balance its directions to meet the most needs while ensuring Cochrane remains a desirable place to live.
Those diverse needs are exactly the reason a town needs a healthy lineup of councillors vying for a spot on council.
While council is fairly representative when it comes to gender – three women and four men – there is a definite lack of ethnic representation despite the growth of cultural diversity in the community.
More people running for seats around the table, means a better chance council’s opinions, knowledge base and experience will be varied enough to be representative of the community as a whole.
Democracy requires public engagement and apathy at the polls or in the race, degrades public representation.
Nomination day is Sept. 18 and it’s time to ask what you can do for Cochrane.
