The results of Saturday’s referendum in Coldstream were anticlimactic for me. Because of the ugliness of the campaign and the divisions it created, I personally stopped caring about the final outcome some time ago. But certainly what caught my interest was the number of people who voted.And it was obvious turn-out would be high as vehicle after vehicle made its way to Coldstream Elementary, one of two polling stations. A total of 3,376 ballots were cast, a stunning number when you consider there are only about 5,000 to 5,500 voters in the municipality. It was certainly good to see so many people embrace their democratic right, but the results were also surprising as the 2005 civic election drew a turn-out of 56 per cent.
Yes, the proposal for a sports complex on agricultural land was controversial, but it was strictly a one-issue vote. An election for mayor and council is significantly more important. After all, these are the individuals who are supposed to represent our interests and make decisions on our behalf. And the matters put before them are more complex and broad-based than just one item.I would hope that Saturday’s referendum is an indication of growing interest in Coldstream politics and leads to a higher participation rate during the civic election in November.
And for the victorious no side Saturday, it appears like they are already looking towards late 2008.As the results rolled in Saturday, a member of the no camp was heard to say, “We’re a force to be reckoned with.”That may be overstating the case as the referendum focused only on one issue, but for many, it will be the basis to challenge the status quo and what they see as the old-boys’ network in Coldstream. In fact, there have been some residents just itching to relive the 2005 election when Gary Corner narrowly beat out Andy Danyliu for the mayor’s chair. With Danyliu unable to run next year (he didn’t file 2005 financial statements by the legislated deadline), there will be a need for someone to fill his shoes. And one or two individuals from the anti-sports complex forces may be up to the task, namely Coun. Jim Garlick or Terri Jones, spokesman for the Greater Vernon Advocates Committee.
Corner’s standing as mayor has suffered through the referendum process, largely because he’s also chairman of the Greater Vernon Services Committee, which did an abysmal job of informing the public about the need for a complex and the associated costs. But a year is forever in politics and I wouldn’t rule Corner out for a second term because the public’semory is often short.As an example, Coldstream residents were upset that a new municipal office was constructed despite long-term borrowing being shot down in a 2001 referendum. But that didn’t stop Brian Postill from being re-elected as mayor in 2002.Certainly all eyes will be on Corner to see how, or if, he can help heal the deep divisions within the community. He took the first step by saying he would accept the referendum results and vote against sending the Aberdeen Road application to the Agricultural Land Commission.But not all of the onus is on Corner.The opposition forces always stated they were against a sports complex on Aberdeen Road and not additional recreational facilities, especially for youth. Let’s see if they are now willing to address sports needs in a meaningful way, or if their comments were nothing more than rhetoric.In the end, Saturday’s referendum could be just a blip on the radar or it could have long-term implications for Coldstream.
1 comment:
I think Richard Rolke is being quite disengenuous. The statement "I personally stopped caring about the final outcome..." We rather doubt that. The coverage and the editorials siddenly changed midway through the debate once the Vernon Morningstar newspaper realized the sentiment of the overwhelming majority. Mr. Rolke is now attempting to say he (and his newpaper) were unbiased fence-sitters. Now way. We aren't buying it, Richard.
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