Editor's note: The Chief's weekly editorial reflects the opinion of the newspaper.
Being on council in Squamish is an admirable, difficult and vital role.
If you are running for council this fall, kudos to you.
Here are some dos and don鈥檛s for potential candidates gleaned from our newsroom鈥檚 observations of past elections.
Don鈥檛 just sling mud at opponents, talk about what you can do for the town. Squamish is growing, but it isn鈥檛 the big city. We don鈥檛 take well to negative campaigning. The 鈥渙pponents鈥� may well be a voter鈥檚 teacher, neighbour or friend.
Focus on what you will do right, more than what someone else did wrong.
Same goes for making it personal: stick to policy and philosophy, not attacking an opponent鈥檚 character.
If you have never been to a council meeting, watch as many as you can online. Council and the documents that move through it have a bit of a language of their own 鈥� as every cub reporter learns quickly. The videos of past councils are archived at squamish.ca.
Do talk to current councillors or District staff to find out how much time and energy the job entails. If you can鈥檛 make the vast majority of meetings, reconsider your candidacy. This town is booming, and there are massively essential issues coming up that will need your full attention.
Watch your 鈥淚鈥� versus 鈥渨e鈥� ratio.
Studying the transcripts of speeches by world leaders is interesting.聽 The ones who do the most good for their people often use 鈥渨e鈥� more than 鈥淚.鈥� If you are running for your ego, that will be evident. You can update your Facebook status for bragging rights on election night. Other than that, make your campaign and platform about 鈥渨e.鈥� No one does anything alone in any level of government.
Be a statue, not a windsock. There鈥檚 a lot of money and power in this little town and some of those who wield it are going to want to sway you to support their agenda. Be wary. Think through your points of view and stick to them. If you don鈥檛, being on council will be very chaotic for you and painful for your constituents as you pivot to please various masters.
Aim to be fair, not friendly. No matter what stand you take, some people are not going to be happy about it. You may lose friends. Therefore, aim to be seen as rational, not the voters鈥� friend.
Avoid hyperbole. Voters are savvy; in fact, they are a naturally skeptical lot here in Squamish, so be authentic and measured. Don鈥檛 predict Armageddon if your opponent(s) gets in. And don鈥檛 promise streets paved with gold if pavement is not even likely.
Watch your social media posts. Consider every status update, post and picture part of your political identity.
Don鈥檛 play games with the media. This one is self-serving on our part. We are going to set up dates and times for candidates to come in and meet with our reporters. Don鈥檛 think we will chase you. We can鈥檛.聽 Respect our role as being the eyes and ears representing the voters. Happy campaigning!
