Don’t necessarily pick incumbents

Dear Editor: Take a good look over the last few elections where incumbents have been successful in getting re-elected. Look at the current city council carefully.

Some of them are touting their political longevity as being a bonus to the city and its developmental process. Be that as it may, a question need be asked of them. That question is “With all of this experience, what has been done to bring young families to the city as well as having employment opportunities for these families and creating suitable rental or home purchase possibilities?”

Overall, what is there here for young families?

The interest of seniors (which includes me) seems to be at the forefront. While this, in and of itself, is not a bad thing, it would seem to be the only thing. How many young families have moved into our city because there is something to attract them to come?

The answer would seem to speak for itself. Maybe it’s time to re-invent the city political wheel and foster some new, vibrant, forward thinking younger members to sit on city council as well as the school board. By doing so, not only would there be fresh ideas but also the possibility to promote avenues that could attract young families to the city.

If we totally ignore this aspect, we will do “what we’ve always done and get what we’ve always got!”

With the election not far away, look around at some of the new names running for office. Check out some of these younger candidates. See who they are and what they might offer to bring about change at city hall. Keep in mind that not much will change if we have “the same old team of horses and the same old driver!”

In summary, do your due diligence and look carefully at new names.

The “old names” will use experience as their watch word. My answer to that is “experience is not always a bonus as too long in one place tends to breed mediocrity and stagnation of ideas.” Keep in mind that four years is a long time between elections.

My premise here is to get all eligible voters out to vote. Make sure that you vote with your conscience and not your heart or what someone else has told you. Make your own choices based on doing some political homework so that we don’t get more of what we have had this last term. Ron Barillaro

Penticton