Elections are a test of stamina, enthusiasm, knowledge and resilience for politicians. For those who love being out meeting people and debating the issues, elections are the best part of politics. For those who'd prefer to work on policy and administration, elections are dreadful.
The federal election now underway will be grueling for candidates in both local ridings of Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies and Cariboo-Prince George. The travel up and down the huge ridings, the endless events, shaking hands, giving variations of the same impassioned speech dozens of times but having to sound like it's the first time and having to remember so many names, faces, issues and party platforms.
To do that for another 10-and-a-half weeks, day in and day out, will not be fun, despite the smiles candidates will plaster to their faces when out in public. Barely half the eligible voters will bother to cast a ballot but that doesn't stop everyone from giving the candidates a piece of their mind about any and all issues, large or small, important or insignificant.
This is the job politicians sign up for, with no guarantees they'll get the paid position available for winning the most votes on election day. For someone like Todd Doherty, he'll have been campaigning for an entire year- first for the Conservative riding nomination and then for the seat in Cariboo-Prince George, by the time this is all over. It doesn't help that he's trying to succeed an increasingly unpopular MP and his party leader is an increasingly unpopular prime minister.
The job for all eligible voters, however, is much easier: participation.
Whether you are a decided voter, a first-time voter, a mad-as-hell voter or a why-the-hell-should-I-bother voter, start with the basics. Go meet your candidate and get to know them. If you value democracy and freedom, then be thankful you get to vote and show it by educating yourself on the issues and the candidates. On Oct. 19, use your power as a citizen and as a taxpayer to help elect the best area representatives you can. Whether you vote for them or not, the MP's job will be to work for you and represent you. And while giving thanks for that, also offer some to each candidate when you meet them, regardless of their political persuasion or yours. They are exposing themselves to so much negativity, so much unearned criticism and righteous indignation, yet they soldier on because they care for their friends, their families, their communities and their country. In exchange for their willingness to be a public servant, they are paid far too much in harassment and abuse. Too few care enough to run and too many of the best and brightest stay on the sidelines rather than expose themselves and their families to such condemnation and ridicule. You may not care for them as individuals and you may not care for their party leader even more but respect the political process and their contribution to that process.
As an aside, election signs are an important part of that process. You may find them ugly and wasteful but instead of complaining about them, put yourself in China or Russia for a moment. In those countries, campaign signs are unnecessary or a cruel reminder to residents with no real say in who takes power. Political advertising only means something in a country tolerant of differing views.
The challenge for the area candidates will be campaign on behalf of both themselves and their party. For Doherty, he will be following the example Shirley Bond has set over numerous campaigns on how to attract votes and win when the leader (especially when it was Gordon Campbell) is not held in high regard. Doherty's signs on the boulevards say it all. They stress Doherty, with the Conservatives getting second billing. No mention of Stephen Harper. The party's own internal polling data in this region tells them that's what will work, so don't expect that to change.
For the NDP candidates (still to be chosen) and the Liberal candidates (Tracy Calogheros in Cariboo-Prince George and Matt Shaw in Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies), they will be pitching their leaders as the anti-Harper and the prime minister in waiting, while also encouraging voters to trust them personally and embrace their party platforms. That's no easy balancing act.
For voters, this campaign will seem never-ending. For the candidates, it will fly by quickly as they knock themselves out each day, trying to win support one vote at a time.
Pat them on the back and tell them they're doing a good job, even if, especially if, you have no intention of giving them your vote.
--Managing editor Neil Godbout
