Grilling season: serve notice to your candidates

Our local communities will face Decision 2016 this fall. OK, so it’s not Hillary vs. The Donald but there’s no denying the coming municipal elections are already shaping up to be pretty interesting, for both town and county.

And while the ultimate decisions on these races will be decided in October, there are decisions to be made now.

Ken Henderson, returning officer for the Town of Truro, is providing us with helpful information leading up to the election. It’s something to pay attention to because things are always changing from election to election.

Right now, people who can see themselves as municipal politicians have to decide if they are going to take the plunge. What’s the competition shaping up to look like? Do I think I can rally the support I need to be successful? Are there enough people who will be in my camp when it’s most important, and who will support me in this quest?

At the municipal level, politicians don’t by any means strike it rich. Truth is, they do well if they get so much as a thank you. But meager financial returns and dearth of appreciation aside, most candidates will enter the fray because they have a genuine interest in seeing their community improve, while keeping their constituents satisfied.

Simply put, find the right reasons to be a candidate. Let not ego be your sole motivation.

The electorate has its responsibility, as well, and it doesn’t begin and finish on voting day.

In coming months, during what quite likely are going to be hotly contested races, voters need to pay attention. Listen and ask questions that will help you form opinions and make the right choices for your needs and what you perceive as the needs of the community.

Politicians and wannabes can have a way of dodging direct questions or giving dismissive responses when they do respond. Don’t settle. Test them.

If a candidate says – and so many do – “I want more transparency on council,” you should challenge them with, “Really, what isn’t transparent now that should be…? How will you do it…? How will you measure your success…? How will we be certain you’ve followed through…?”

For every answer you get, come up with three more questions.

You’ll hear words like “accountability” and “fiscal restraint” and “open process.” But do candidates even know what these terms mean, let alone if they can deliver on them?

Voters have the power to make better candidates, and thereby better representatives.

Ultimately, whether we do or don’t, we face one inevitable outcome: We get the government we deserve.