No matter the level of government, during each term of office decisions will be made that eligible voters will agree or disagree with, often strongly.
When that happens, many who did not exercise their right to cast a ballot will lament the outcome of the last election and their own laissez faire approach to democracy. Don’t be among them.
The 2022 municipal election season is nearing completion. The deadline to cast a vote by mail has passed, but varying options remain, including, depending on the municipality, online voting or taking ballots to drop-off locations or the local municipal office.
This election campaign has differed locally from the past few, in that there are a higher number of acclamations, including the entirety of council in the Town of Minto.
While the situation raises the spectre of low voter turnout, Minto voters still have important decisions to make. Voters need to decide whether incumbent Ward 1 Wellington County councillor Dave Anderson will continue his work, or give way to challenger Bert Beilke.
Minto electors, along with those in Mapleton and Wellington North, also have a choice among four candidates for the Upper Grand District School Board trustee position for northern Wellington. Those candidates have demonstrated substantially divergent opinions on several issues at recent candidates’ meetings, so there is an important choice to be made here as well.
In Wellington North, voters have a choice between incumbent Mayor Andy Lennox and longtime councillor Dan Yake for the top council post. There is also a three-candidate race for the Ward 1 council position to be decided.
In Mapleton, incumbent Mayor Gregg Davidson has been acclaimed, but six candidates vie for four council seats and, with only two incumbents on the ballot, the township’s council is guaranteed to have a different look next term.
Early results of a Wellington Advertiser online poll, still in progress as of this writing, indicate growth (36%), taxation (25%) and housing (23%) are key issues for area voters. “Other” issues was chosen by 16% of respondents just prior to deadline.
No matter where you live in northern Wellington, there are important reasons to cast a ballot. Alternative voting methods such as mail, online and drop-off options have made voting easier than ever.
Now it’s up to you.
