The Editor,
On Saturday in Coquitlam, I get to cast one ballot for mayor, eight for city councillor and four for school trustee. Being a typical North American, it may be asking too much of me to make 13 decisions all at once. But some politicians are telling me I benefit by choosing fewer than eight councillors and four trustees. In fact, they tell me it's my right.
OK, I'm always suspicious when a politician tells me to take the easy route and it will all work out.
So, do I really benefit by voting for three or four councillors? The argument in favour is that my vote has more weight, that my choices start with one vote and the other 12 candidates have zero. I can see where this helps them but does it help me secure representation in line with my views? Well, no.
There are eight councillors elected whether I vote for one, two, three or eight. Each one gets one vote at council meetings. If only two or three of my choices get elected, I have to hope the majority of council - which I did not have a hand in electing - will do what I want them to do. So I've helped a small number candidates get elected and left it up to other voters to make up the majority. Had I done some research, I could well have found candidates who shared my values, if not my exact positions, and been comfortable having them at the helm for the next three years.
Further, some would have us elect a voting block but such blocks, or slates, have always been a mechanism for exclusion rather than inclusion. Members of a block are always aware that they owe some, if not the majority, of their electoral success to the block and its backers. Once in office, a member of the block tends to find direction and resolve from the block rather than the electorate. Don't believe me, look at how many times federal and provincial politicians put party over people and support ridiculous legislation or bad economic policy.
I can't help but believe that it isn't me who benefits from selective voting or voting blocks for council or for school trustee.
So tomorrow, I'll be taking the more difficult route and using all eight of my council votes and all four of my trustee votes.
One week ago, we remembered people who died to protect my right to vote. I will honour that sacrifice by using my full democratic voice.
Carl Trepanier, Coquitlam
Editor's note: While Mr. Trepanier's principle remains in the other cities, the numbers change. In Port Moody and Port Coquitlam, voters elect a mayor plus six city councillors and two school trustees. In Anmore, it's a mayor plus four village councillors (the school trustee has been acclaimed).
