As election time nears, social media channels and letters to the editor are beginning to draw the lines outlining this year’s campaign issues.
As expected development and growth is at the top of people’s minds – not surprisingly, considering population growth has exploded in the past decade.
Since 2006, Cochrane has doubled in size. In that time transportation infrastructure such as main arterial roads and public transit have remained relatively the same.
Considering Cochrane’s gateway status to the Rockies and the number of tourists who pass through the community, that has meant considerable traffic pressures.
Council spending, especially in the wake of the new pool that came in millions over budget is also being questioned in terms of whether council has set the proper priorities.
Throw in recent debates over green spaces, dog parks and school sites and there is no shortage of issues that the next term of council will have to address.
Over the next few weeks, the roster of potential candidates will be solidified and incumbents choosing to run again will be preparing to duke it out with opponents representing fresh blood and “new ideas.”
The hardest job in any election falls to the voters. It is their job to sort through the rhetoric and determine who will best represent the community and set the best direction over the next term.
The best way to achieve that is by staying informed. Taking the time to understand the issues and know what each candidate brings to the table.
That is where we at the Cochrane Eagle come in. Aside from reporting on the important issues that face this community, we will also be doing in-depth reporting on the election campaign and the candidates vying for a chance to represent the community.
As part of our commitment to ensuring voters are armed with the knowledge to make an informed choice, the Cochrane Eagle will be hosting its own all-candidates forum on Sept. 26 in partnership with the Cochrane Lions Club.
This two-hour affair will give members of the public an opportunity to hear candidates’ thoughts on a number of issues and also ask questions important to them.
We encourage the public to stay informed and attend the forum, which is a free event. We also ask anyone who has questions or concerns they would like to see addressed either in these pages or at the forum to call us or email us with their ideas.
Elections are vital to our democracy and a chance for the public to truly set the mandate for the community. There should be no excuse for voter apathy.
