Election notebook

Door-to-door difficult but doable: Diodati

Campaigning on chemo is complicated.

Just ask Jim Diodati.

"Just so people know, I am going to do some door-to-door,” said Diodati, who is seeking a third term as Niagara Falls mayor in the Oct. 22 election.

He’s midway through a sixmonth chemotherapy program, after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in July.

The chemo weakens his immune system, so the usual handshaking and hugging is not allowed.

“A hundred per cent I'm going to do it. I just can’t do nearly what I did. I can't shake hands — I'm not comfortable wearing gloves and shaking hands. So I am going to door to door."

“I always like to go with somebody. So I will go with a few people, one to ring the bell and open the door. And they'll say, ‘we’re here with Mayor Jim'’… I'll say, I just wanted to come by to say hello, is there anything on your mind, do you have any concerns you want to share with me?”

Working with volunteers allows him to take rest breaks.

Hodgkin’s lymphoma is one of the most treatable forms of cancer. It’s the chemo that causes hair loss, a drop in weight and temporary energy lapses.

SEE ME, HEAR ME

There are still some chances to meet the candidates or hear mayoral debates.

In Niagara Falls, on Oct. 9 at the Gale Centre from 6 to 7:30 p.m. all candidates have been invited to set up tables and meetand-greet with voters. That night is sponsored by the Niagara Falls Chamber of Commerce.

Meanwhile, last week’s TV debate between mayoral candidates Diodati, Kim Craitor and Dinah Mansour sponsored by Cogeco is still available on Youtube, by searching ‘Niagara Falls mayors debate.’

The next day, on Oct. 10, radio station 610 CKTB will host an on-air mayors debate from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Diodati isn’t expected to take part but the other three candidates are confirmed.

ADVANCE POLLS ARE SET

Vote early and vote often, old school politicians used to say.

Well, you can’t vote often but you can vote early.

In Fort Erie, advance polls open Oct. 12 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Stevensville Memorial Hall on Stevensville Road.

After that, advance polls are at the Leisureplex on Oct. 13 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; at the Central Fire Station on Central Avenue on Oct. 15 from 1 to 8 p.m.; and at the Crystal Ridge Community Centre on Ridge Road S. on Oct. 16 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Following that, others are set for Oct. 11 at the Chippawa Arena on Sodom Road, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Oct. 12 at the MacBain Centre on Montrose Road from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Oct. 13 at the Gale Centre on Thorold Stone Road, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

WHERE ARE ALL THE VOTERS?

Voter turnouts in the past few elections has been dismal.

That’s pretty disheartening, considering how easy it is to vote with the number of advance polls all around the municipalities prior to voting day itself.

In Niagara Falls in the last municipal election in 2014, roughly one in three voters actually made the effort to vote – turnout was a puny 36.7 per cent. In 2010 it was only slightly better at 42.8 per cent.

In 2014 in Fort Erie, turnout was 43.7 per cent, an improvement over the 41 per cent who voted in 2010.

Across Niagara, the best turnout in 2014 happened in Wainfleet where 52.5 per cent – a majority of voters – went to the polls. St. Catharines had the lowest turnout, at 34.3 per cent.

St. Catharines also holds the dubious title of having the worst municipal voter turnout in this century, across Niagara. In 2000, only 27 per cent of voters actually voted.