HOPE FOR DEMOCRACY

Anyone feeling jaded or cynical about politics should have visited Edmonton City Hall on Monday. That was the day when people who want to run for mayor, councillor or school trustee lined up to file their nomination papers — and helped mend our faith in democracy while they were at it.

If you despair at waning interest in the democratic process, take heart that 132 people officially declared themselves as candidates in the Oct. 16 election. Although one has since dropped out, that betters the 1986 record of 120 office-seekers.

Monday’s turnout included three last-minute challengers for Ward 1, where it had looked like Andrew Knack would be acclaimed. In fact, there will be only one candidate to be acclaimed this election, public school board chairwoman Michelle Draper.

Democracy is better served when voters are offered a choice of policies and personalities. Competition stimulates debate and allows Edmontonians a chance to hold incumbents to account for their records over the previous term. It adds up to a more interesting and lively election, and hopefully, greater voter turnout.

If you fear that politics has become an exclusive club for well-heeled elites, take note that candidates who descended on City Hall Monday came from all walks of life, including jobs as sales representatives, massage therapists and small businesspeople.

Those worried by lack of diversity — a concern in politics generally and on the last city council in particular because only one member was a woman — will be gladdened to see that 36 per cent of candidates are women. Also notable, the list of hopeful includes names reflecting the city’s multicultural makeup.

It’s not just an Edmonton phenomenon; Calgary also saw some 131 would-be mayors, councillors and school board trustees.

Credit an absence of party politics and still welcoming entrance requirements of only $100 and 25 signatures for encouraging so many people to step up. Local government is also the most likely to engage with would-be politicians because it’s the closest and most tangible level to people. Civic politics deals with concrete and relatively easy-to-grasp matters that touch people every day: schools, roads, transit, and development.

But quantity of candidates is one thing; quality is another. One hundred and thirty-one Edmontonians did their part for democracy by filing papers as candidates.

Now until election day, it’s up to the rest of us to do our parts and work out which of them are most worthy of representing us at council or on the school board and cast those votes on Oct. 16.