How to attract candidates, improve voting rates
Single-term regional council seats could breathe new life into the democratic process
Seeing an incumbent Mayor or Ward Councillor facing a legitimate challenge should attract voter interest.
Ward boundary review. It doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. Understandably. The cool and detached disinterest of council members is undeniable. This is viewed as an unwanted yet mandatory task. Why?
I believe the fault lies in the guiding principles that Hamilton council directed the consultants to follow. Absent from the six principles is any reference enhancing the democratic process. The consultants noted that there is no priority ranking involved nor an overriding objective. The level of public interest would be greater if the first principle of this exercise was to develop a system in which all the people are involved, typically by voting to elect representatives. This is not to discredit the framework in its entirety as there is a place for each of the six principles. But placing democracy at the apex puts the other principles in context.
In seeking political office, the incumbency factor is most prevalent at the municipal level. With no party affiliation at play, the electorate is not conflicted having to decide whether to vote for the candidate or the party. In a municipal election, voters undertake an assessment of the quality of the incumbent which could be viewed as a form of referendum. An evaluation of potential challengers will only begin once a decision has been made to vote out the incumbent.
It is easy enough to identify the challenges of municipal government elections. They primarily rest on these two pillars: voter participation rates and the incumbency advantage. When an incumbent is on the ballot the electorate appears to attach less value to their single vote. The high success rate of incumbents returning to office discourages individuals from coming forward. The solution to resolve these issues rests on engagement which is not restricted or limited to voting. An effective democratic system would also engage qualified candidates to seek office.
Setting aside the potential of introducing a sixteenth ward, the Greater Hamilton Area can be divided into three (currently wards 1-5, 6-9, and 10-15). These regions have between 162,000 and 180,000 residents. The projections generated by Watson & Associates would see this gap narrow over the next decade. I would propose that each area elects a Regional Councillor. Residents would enjoy the benefit of two avenues to bring forward issues and two opportunities to sound out their elected representative.
With respect to the proposed Regional Councillors there is one condition: these positions be limited to a single term. This policy would ensure that a citizen would find an open seat to contest regardless where one resides in the GHA. First-time candidates seeking office would not face an incumbent. During their term in office, they would have the opportunity to learn from and work alongside incumbent Ward Councillors.
Incumbent Ward Councillors considering the higher office of mayor would be able to test the waters by seeking office from a larger constituency. Vacating a ward for a Regional Councillor position would open the door to new ward representation. Representing one-third of the GHA would give Regional Councillors a better understanding and feel for the broader community issues. That experience would better equip an individual for the position of mayor. With the addition of three Regional Councillors there would be a larger pool of qualified candidates to contest a mayoral election.
The electorate would vote for their Ward and Regional Councillor as well as Mayor. Seeing an incumbent Mayor or Ward Councillor facing a legitimate challenge should attract voter interest. Knowing that at least one of these contests would involve a vacancy should engage the electorate more so than the current practice. Recent history has shown that the absence of an incumbent has drawn more candidates. This pool of new entrants may promote ideas and viewpoints that may not be shared by the existing council members. The electorate is more likely to find a candidate that speaks directly to them and will warrant their vote. Giving a voice to a larger number of constituents validates the outcome of an election.
I don’t presume that the solution I have outlined is the best. However, I do believe it promotes engagement and addresses the concerns around voter participation and incumbency. There is greater legitimacy when a larger number of voters participate. Another consideration for a working democracy is capable representation which a larger pool of candidates should generate. As stated at the outset, the Ward Boundary Review neglects to address the current challenges of municipal elections. Tinkering on the fringes will not reverse the disturbing decline in voter turnout. This proposal is designed to adjust the focus. It is my hope that a broader discussion will engage the citizenry of the Greater Hamilton Area and lead to a progressive recommendation for the upcoming election.
Scott Weldon is married and has raised two sons on the East Mountain. He is active in youth sports (Lawfield Minor Hockey and CANUSA) and is a past recipient of the Hamilton Distinguished Sports Volunteer Award and Alliance Hockey Coach of the Year.