| Started 3 years ago by Adrian Nieoczym | (5 posts) (2 voices) |
“The problem at city hall is not that some special interest group or other has infiltrated the place and are blocking others from access to power. The problem is that the vast majority of citizens aren’t interested enough to make sure one of the people elected to council represents their interests.”
Adrian Nieoczym: Low voter turnout a symptom of messy electoral system
A good part of the reason for voter apathy in Kelowna is because that is the way our city council wants it. They want it because most of them are on council with the backing of developers and the business community and the last thing that the latter group wants is an awakened community that might upset the status quo. Kelowna council had an opportunity to get more people involved by putting at least one referendum question on the ballot but decided not to because that might force the hand of the majority on council to do something other than what the business community wants. The most outspoken people on council against the use of referendums have been Andre Blanleil, Graeme James and Robert Hobson. You can put a lot of the blame on them for the 11% voter turnout in the by-election.
Good article Adrian. Kelowna voter participation is not atypical.
I’ve always been told major events come in three’s. Well, it’s happened to me again.
I am enjoying my deep brain implants, I have just survived a heart attack and stent implant (including an air ambulance ride to Victoria), and the biggest fortuitous happening of all… I agree with most of Adrian’s article.
He has given some thought to this sad affair and he is right. Residence of kelowna have no room to complain
when a young man uses his skills and effort to get elected.
For those who don’t like the result and what to assign some sort of blame; get off your butts and participate in democracy next time.
One small thing Adrian. Your comments regarding Norm Letnick are a bit premature. The man has great personal integrity…just watch!
Glad to hear we can agree about some things Mel! But please don’t take my comment about Norm Letnick negatively. I pointed out what he did not to belittle it but to show how extraordinary it is for an MLA to vote against their party. It was a move I really respect. Even Norm, in the interview I did with him about his vote, said it wasn’t something he wanted to do too often.
