Delta independent council candidate Mike Smith is urging residents who normally don’t vote in municipal elections to change that for this month’s race.
He says with voter turnout usually low at about 30 per cent, there’s a reason there’s been not much change. If people are finally fed up and want to see a new and dynamic municipal government, it’s up to them.
“We’ve been hearing the same spin from this council how great things are and how wonderful they’ve been. Talk with residents in South Delta and in North Delta and you hear a different story. Whether it’s our shabby facilities like Winskill rec centre or the ancient change rooms at Sungod that look like an outright health hazard, people have had enough,” says Smith in a news release.
“While neighbourhood livability continues to decline and council keeps a contingency of cash, they now give us the spin how terrific they’ve been on municipal finances and taxation, leaving out that debt reduction began under Beth Johnson as mayor. But what's the real social cost of eliminating all the debt but your taxes are the same? The neighbourhood issues are many and our lack of facilities is a joke for the most part. While we also now keep hearing about this Enviro-Smart debacle, all the incumbents conveniently don’t answer how Delta in many cases is without, fallen behind.”
Smith, a labour leader, says he is hoping that residents this election talk to their friends and neighbours and take the time to spend a few minutes casting a ballot. In 2002, voter turnout was 44 per cent and Smith believes a number like that in this month’s election can lead to some changes, but staying away from "yes people" on slates.
“This council is too comfortable thinking they’ll always be there because of low voter turnout. We only have ourselves to blame if we complain and don’t take the time to do something about it,” says Smith.
“Before you throw your Where to Vote Card in the recycling bin, think about why the mayor and senior manager refused to deal with the former Delta South independent MLA because they said they didn't need to, petty, or why we haven't had an indoor multi-sport court facility years ago, or how one councillor keeps introducing ridiculous notices of motion like the one recently where she wants farmers to have to notify Delta before fields get manure. Meanwhile, our children don’t have enough safe sidewalks.”
The election takes place Oct. 20.
