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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1970-12-03, Page 16PAGE FOURTEEN ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1970 From My Window It's that time again. It's time for the annual or biennial munic- ipal elections and in most small towns where nominations have made elections necessary, the tempest is beginning to boil. It has been some years now since I first began to vote and to be perfectly frank, I'rn getting just a little peeved. Seldom do I vote for the winning candidate. That's probably because my politics are not in accord with the majority... or because I see things just a little differently than most voters. Of course, a municipal elect- ion is a far different thing than a provincial or federal hassle. During a municipal election, personalities are involved such as you wouldn't believe.. unless you live in a small town and have been on the scene of one or two municipal contests. The nomination meeting come. first. Everyone who is interested in municipal politics is present. That usually means the entire council, a handful of voters and a half-dozen hecklers. Election Time Shirley Keller The members of council play a ,-ery cagey game during the first hour of the meeting. It isn't considered cricket to put your name on the board early in the nomination hour. Rather one must wait until the last dramat- ic second to show whether or not you intend to stand for an office. As nominations close, the momentum picks up. The clerk is writing steadily, getting down the names of all the late -comers, In most cases in recent years there is less need for all the mystery. Usually the main street gossip mongers have predicted very accurately in advance who will do what on nomination night. The speeches begin. The first speaker reviews the year, the second speaker fills in what he has missed, the third speaker ties up all the loose ends and the fourth, fifth, sixth and sev- enth etc. speakers have very little left to talk about... except to say, "I think he's covered everything, but I do wish to thank my mover and seconder To The RECTORS OF STANLEY TOWNSHIP Haying allowed my name to go before you as a can- didate for Councillor for another term, I would ap- preciate your influence and support at the polls on De- cember 7. • If elected I will serve everyone to the best of my ability. JACK SCOTCHMER VOTERS OF HENSALL: Having been born and raised in the Village of Hensall, I feel it my civic duty to run for council. I think it an utter dis- grace the way our municipal buildings—namely the Town Hall and Arena --ars going to ruin. Over the past 10 years, tens f thousands of dollars have been spent repaving our streets, and at the same time our council have an engineering firm surveying the village for sewage. think sewage is a must for Hensall, and the sooner the better. Within five years, as we are given to understand, we are •going to have regional government. In my possession I have a booklet put out by the federal government on pollution, which states they will finance a sewage system on a low. interest basis, and on completion of the installation they would pay 25% of the total cost. Having served 10 years on the Clinton and Hensall Fire Depart- ments and two very succesful years on s.ar local PUC, It would be my pleasure if you, the vote -s, could see your way clear to support me at the polls on Mon- day, December 7. Sincerely Yours, JOHN SANGSTER For transportation or baby-sitting phone 262-2514 for the confidence they have placed in me." Once in a long while someone makes a challenging statement but generally municipal nomin- ation meetings are formalities without fireworks. All the little stinging remarks about various personalities are left until the candidates are alone with the boys over a beer... or at the local service club among friends. Then the campaign begins in earnest. The candidates attend church more regularly. In fact, they might become ecumenical and kick over the traces by at- tending the neighboring service of worship. Candidates begin to pay their bills. If they have none, they begin to make some by purch- asing little bits and pieces from the local merchants just to show they shop at home. The wives of candidates have their hair done more regularly and while they are at the beauty salon, they just happen to ment- ion that so -and-so has declared allegiance to hubby during the upcoming election. Wives also become hostesses - for the town clerk and his wife, the industrial commissioner and his wife, the street sweep and his wife (just to show the human element). Even the children of candidates get into the act. They hobnob with the local newspaper editor's kids. They carry garbage for a Huron New • (continued from page 13) for the purpose of contacting those arrested and ensuring that their rights according to law are observed. (4) The Act would be in force for a specific period of not long- er than 30 days after which it would automatically lapse. The strength of the New Dem- ocratic Party has always been the dedicated enthusiasm and informed opinion of our memb- ership. It is now time for that strength to be mobilized on be- half of the civil rights Of all the people of Canada. Discussion of the Resolutions on Farm Policy, Health Services and Education which were ap- proved at the October Provincial Convention took place. "They are now Provincial policy " Mr. Glazier emphasized, " and we must consequently familiarize ourselves with them." Interested voters are invited to contact the secretary, Mrs. Shirley Weary, Goderich, if they wish to make inquiries regarding Provincial policy on these matters. A finance committee was set up including David Weary, Herb Klopp and Jack Van Egmond. Ideas for a fund-raising project included the suggestion that a dinner be held which an NDP member of the Legislature would be invited to address. The January meeting will be held in Goderich when a survey will be launched. Members will begin a canvass of the communit) to request that residents answer a brief questionnaire on import- ant Canadian matters. 0 Contrary to popular conception hunting is a relatively safe re- creational pursuit when compared to accidents while boating and skiing. senior citizen or write a heart- rendering poem about daddy for publication in the school journal. On the actual election day, families of the candidates go into seclusion. No one can find a single soul who has anything to do with the fight. Yet in the evening, just as soon as the dec- iding ballot is counted, they emerge from their hiding places to bask in the sunlight of victory or to accept defeat as a good loser should. Friends become friends again. Enemies revert to enemies. They drive 50 miles to the city to shop. They spend their Sun- day mct'nings in bed. They drop their smiles and go back to being snarley and cynical. The election is officially over when everyone gets snappish again... and life gets back to that dog-eat-dog jungle of dis- satisfaction and futility. TO THE ELECTORS of STANLEY TWP. Having been nominated for council for the years 1971-72, and having served on council for the past eight years, I will if elected, continue to serve the ratepayers of the Township of Stanley to the best of my ability. Therefore I solicit your support at the polls on Monday, December 7, 1970. Yours respectfully, CALVIN HORTON Ratepayers of Stanley Township: Having been nominated as a Candidate for Council- lor in the Township of Stanley, I would sincerely appreciate your support at the polls on Monday, De- cember 7. My main interest, if elected, would be to work • for the preserving of our present system of munici- pal democracy and not be- coming part of an integrat- ed regional administration. ...For A Strong Voice In Stanley Township.. VOTE STECKLE, PAUL For transportation to the polls, call 262-5440, 236-487V ORM RATEPAYERS OF STANLEY Vote: Having served two terms as a councillor in the Township of Stan- ley, 1 am asking for your support in the forthcoming election. If elected I will endeavour to serve all the ratepayers in the Township, to the best of my abil- ity. I would like to point out to everyone that I favour a tax col- lection system of once a year pay- ment, only! FOR TRANSPORTATION TO THE POLLS CALL 482-9297 or 236-4254 CONSITT, TOM X For Councillor In Stanley Township