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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1985-11-06, Page 4• es a�i % j deals of cost«ef f ective' Mase and business - 1 evil fashionedwork <tiing about the prof es people attempt ta' nod Brent than alk that the employer;i;t n , at times, fickle as 11 • ` Ktflree o' aur weep eti et the slobber w t`.ee> , tick, should d its- way tolower relrneties , where 1mil have an' unobstructed view of thespastns. Without notice; shave, sutbed to bouts of raucous laughter and kir slapping. The week was'so miserable thane step ladder' was carefully placed under .the basement window inpreparation Of that fateful, desparateleap'. - This is the week that municipal election candidate profiled re churned outt in rapid - like p like fashion, ready or general consumption by the unsuspecting public just in time for the election. The pages of insightful com- mentary, prepared by the diligent scribes of the puslating newsroom, are doled out in tw otlofto got wO U11 °,1 ale the sys em, rid todthrifts, wn l harttlre#r�'lly: io14"Mille ,sll� 'lir ' tate cauestileencea and ase .beat patient au ective voice, be available �or eco ctive:criticism at any hour ofttte`:day' or night end lower taxes while providing more services. Ultimately, that's exactly what the ratepayers are .looking for. .Nobody's found that candidate yet, but he or she must be out there somewhere. These civic -minded people trooped in and out of the office of your favorite weekly ing fora jo taxpalyer a e ahy laces are reluctant tlt�rely when given the o eZ�ve�t w others can'. rattle off a l bob ere Ott' ante. Ostensibly, "1 in terest ail the miler workings of rAti01cipal ` government that lures candidates to the campaign trail in the first place. However, it takes more than a passi i .111 ..' rest to provide effective leadership a�thd.; to MLA municipal level. „ sleciric ldIdatee hast so nee etre: aro>1elsof e ,vote o dee °eat. at effec ;nt sign only res sible ap- ro cb ]the muni election, , is jet ;to p e ss it o . •ails: say it doesti''t .�aehil� ala ter but when an issue affects yeti, it tvjllftl jeer and you'll want somettlua t Mallae an it ormed an responsible'deoi- Opinion r THE NEWS PORTSFOR INCE OB�ESRICH & DISTRICT 1Goderc 9 SIGNAL -STAR BEST ALL POUND COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER IN CANADA (0=48414 04u 3500.45001 C C N.4 Boner Nevrpoper C44)444441984 P.O. BOX 220 HUCKINS BT. INDUSTRIAL PARK ®ODERICH° ONT. N7A 466 PUBLISHED BY: SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED Founded in 1046 end published every Wednesday et Ooderich, Ontario. Member of the CCNA end OCNA. Bubeorlptlone payable In advence 002.00, (Senior Citizens 010.00 privilege nerd number required) 1n Caned., 080.00 to U.B.A., $60.00 to ell other countries, Bingle copies 60C. Olepley, National end Classified edvertising rotes available on request. Please took for Rete Card No. 16 effective October 1, 1985. Advertising 1e accepted on the condition that In the event of a typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous Item, together with the reeaoneble allowance for signature, will not be cherged for but that balance of the advertisement will be paid for et' the applicable rete. In the event of e typographical error advertising goods or services et a wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising Is merely en of Per to sell, end may be withdrawn et any time. The Signal -Star Is not' responsible for the loss or damage of uneollc°ted manuscripts, photo. or ocher materiels used for reproducing purpose.. President and Publisher Editor ROBERT G. SHRIER DAVE SYKES Advertising Manager DON HUBICK FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICES...pleaee phone (519)524-2614 Second class mail registration Member: number 0716 Q` ►CNA can Be a responsible voter Municipal elections have always been a vital component of democracy. While one could attach a measure of credence to the theory that elections, especially of the municipal variety, have fallen victim to an apathetic society, they are still functional and offer a degree of excitement. Candidates may be less plentiful, and the voter turnout decreases with each election. Whether or not the younger voter takes an active interest in the administration of municipal government today, is subject to speculation. But we must not demean or take lightly the significance of the municipal election, especially now that the people we elect to office, are working on our behalf, with our tax money, for three years. People can accomplish wonderous feats in three years. They can also, if left to their own inadequate devices, be destructive. That's why your choice must be an informed and responsible one. If the candidates take the initiative to become conversant with and interested in municipal government, if they are willing to make a commitment to be responsible , diligent legislators, then the least the voter can do is ensure that the franchise is exercised properly. Being a voter carries with it certain inherent responsibilities. We all have the responsibili- ty to know who we vote for and why. But an intelligent vote is a vote that requires some labour. Seek out the candidates and question them on issues that affect you. This week the Goderich Rotary Club is sponsoring an all -candidates night at St. Mary's School and if possi- ble, ratepayers should attend and ask the questions they feel need to be answered. The Signal -Star, in the community section of this week's paper, offers profiles on town council council, PUC, township and board of education candidates in the November 12 elec- tion. The profiles will give you an insight into the candidate while outlining his or her ambi- tions, concerns, and issues that affect the municipality. A lot has transpired in the municipality over the past three years and the next government elected by the taxpayers will have a hand in shaping the future of this town. On Tuesday, Nov. 12 the polls will he open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and if you're not sure where your polling station is, contact town hall for information. Taking the time to vote is only living up to part of the commitment. Be a responsible voter and make an intelligent and informed decision. The future of the townships, the town of Goderich and the education system could well depend on it. Take time to reflect As the memories of war fade with the passing of time, it is easy for Canadians to lose sight of the sacrifice made by veterans in the two world wars. Many rnen fought overseas to en- sure that their children, and ultimately generations that followed, would lead a peaceful and harmonious existence. In order to understand and even appreciate present day conditions, we must reflect on the sacrifices and accomplishments of the people who fought and died. Remembrance Day gives us that opportunity and on Monday, November 11, everyone is Invited to reflect on the selflessness of Canadian soldiers, by participating in the cenotaph services at 11 p.m. We are fortunate in Goderich to have a slate of good candidates for the town council, the board of education, and the public utilities commission. It is up to us, the electors, to make an intelligent choice next week. In some municipalities, the nomination period had to be extended, because there were fewer candidates than positions to be filled. Goderich has always shown considerable interest in public representation, with above average voter turnout and a number of persons offering their services. Everybody agrees that the quality of the elected bodies is increasingly important, in order to keep in step with the complex municipal demands of modern times, but how does the average taxpayer and elector evaluate the potential performance of a candidate? The incumbents have shown, through their words and deeds, in easy situations and under pressure, a great deal about their style and substance. We have seen and heard them at the meetings or we have learned something about their municipal activities (or lack of them) through the news media, during the term. 111 It is more difficult to evaluate the qualifications of new candidates, unless we are familiar with them from other types of community involvement. It is most difficult to react to these individuals who have never before shown any municipal interest or awareness and who suddenly offer to speak and act on our behalf in important public matters. We can take the time to find useful information concerning the candidates' views on pertinent subjects and answers to timely questions, in interviews appearing elsewhere in this newspaper. It is our loss that the introduction and discussion meetings with candidates, in person and on television, which were so well organized by service clubs and other community groups during past election campaigns, have been discontinued. As the municipal elections are the only elections which take place regularly every three years, on a day clearly stipulated and well known, this election did not catch anyone by surprise at the last minute. A front page announcement said last week that "there will be no all candidates meeting sponsored by the Rotary Club because of the three acclamations for mayor, reeve arid These Eyes by Todd Mowatt Sugar and Spice By Bill Smiley This is a time of year when my heart goes out to city -dwellers. It's a time when rural or small town living is immensely superior to that in the concrete canyons, the abominable apartments, the sad suburbs of metropolia. In the city, day ends drearily in the fall. There's the long, wearying battle home through traffic, or. the draughty, crushed, degrading scramble on public transportation. The city man arrives home fit for nothing but slumping for the evening before the television set. And what greets him? The old lady, wound up like a steel spring because she hasn't seen a soul she knows all day, there's nothing to look at but that stupid house next door, exactly like their own, and the kids have been giving her hell. He's stuck with it. For the whole evening. That's why so many city chaps have workshops in the basement. It's much simpler to go down cellar and whack off a couple of fingers in the power saw than listen to Mabel. Life is quite different for the small town male. He is home from work in minutes. He surveys the ranch, says, "Must get those storm windows on one of these days," and goes in, to the good fall smells of cold drinks and hot food. His wife saw him at breakfast, again at deputy reeve". The fact is disappointing, but the Rotary Club has a right to determine its own activities. However, I find the reasoning peculiar and offensive, because it perpetuates a municipal myth and implies that some positions are less important than others and some candidates do not merit public consideration and attention. The mayor of a municipality is a member (and the head) of the council, has a lot of social obligations, a few specific responsibilities (mainly in the nature of recommendations to the council) and carries a very important public relations job. In addition to being members of the town council, Goderich reeve and deputy reeve take their seats on the county council. On the town council, they have no special status. All three have one vote each on the town council. The six councillors have a total of six votes. Attributing special powers and a status of greater importance to mayors, reeves and deputies rests merely on local folklore, not on fact. The positions on the public school board and the public utilities commission are most certainly Just as essential in their own fields lunch, has had a good natter with the dame next door, and has been out for two hours, raking leaves with the kids. She doesn't need him. Instead of drifting off to the basement, the small town male announces that this is his bowling night, or he has to go to a meeting of the Conservation and Slaughter Club, and where's a clean shirt. And that's all there is to it. While her city counterpart squats in front of TV, gnawing her nails and wondering why she didn't marry good old George, who has a big dairy farm now, the small town gal col- lects the kids and goes out to burn leaves. There is nothing more romantic than the back streets of a small town in the dark of a fall evening. Piles of leaves spurt orange flame. White smoke eddies. Neighbors call out, lean on rakes. Women, kerchiefed like gypsies, heap the dry leaves high on the fire. Kids avoid the subject of bedtime, dash about the fire like nimble gnomes. Or perhaps the whole family goes to a fowl supper. What, in city living, can compare with this finest of rural functions? A crisp fall evening, a drive to the church hall through a Hallowe'en landscape, an ap- petite like an alligator, and that first wild whiff of turkey and dressing that makes your knees buckle and the juices flow free in ELSA HAYDON and in our community. Very close to half (48.5 per cent in 1985) of our property taxes goes to the Huron County Board of , Education. Are we never to think about the returns? The comforts and convenience of uninterrupted power and water services are ours daily. It depends on much more than turning on a switch or a tap at our end. In general we, the taxpayers and electors, are mainly left to our own devices in this election. We can establish some criteria in ft your cheeks. But it's on weekends that my pity for the city -dweller runneth over. Not for him the shooting -thatch on a clear fall Saturday, with its good-humored competition, its easy friendliness. Not for him the quiet stroll down a sunny wood road, shotgun over arrn, partridge and woodcock rising like clouds of mosquitoes. It's not that he doesn't live right, or doesn't deserve these pleasures. It's just that it's physically impossible to get to them easily. If he wants to crouch in a duck -blind, at dawn, he has to drive half the night to get there. Maybe on a Sunday or holiday, in the fall, the city family decides to head out and see some of that beautiful autumn foliage They see it, after driving two hours. And with 50,000 other cars, they crawl home in late afternoon, bumper to bumper, the old man cursing, the kids getting hungrier, the mother growing owlier. Small town people can , drive for 15 minutes and hit scenery, at least around here, that leaves them breathless. Or they'll wheel out a few miles to see thsir relatives on the farm, eat a magnificent dinner, and sit around watching TV in a state of delicious torpor. Yup. It's tough to live in the city. in the fall. 1i our own minds, for measuring the qualifications of those who can represent us in a successful, businesslike and timely manner. Getting in touch with individual candidates about their personal stand on certain issues and attitudes, against the background of our own standards, might be useful. The men and women to represent our whole community ought to reflect the different needs and interests of the community. A mixture of personalities, talents and styles would be good for us. The continuity provided by some incumbents is fine and necessary, but going by continuity alone we would still be living in caves. Does an incumbent's length of service interpret into active and intelligent participation, independent thinking, effective expression and good reasoning?? New ideas and approaches of newcomers are of great value. Representatives growing roots on safe chairs are going out of style. For our own good we must take a strong and thoughtful position in selecting our elected officials. With these thoughts, shall I see you in the polling station hext week?