Getting involved in the mayoral election

Let’s Pretend this is a High School Election… You go to a huge high school. Around a million people. A new school year comes along, and, with it, student elections. Only they call themselves “City Council,” and they happen to handle a substantially large amount of cash and resources, which makes this election a big deal. It all comes down to the same thing, though: you have to choose a candidate to vote for. Or, since a lot of us aren’t 18 yet, a candidate to support. How do you get started? You get to know the candidates.

The bottom-line:

-There are SIXTEEN candidates. Such a large number of competitors makes this an atypical election.
-As in any election, some candidates are more popular and well-known than others, which gives them an advantage. Unfortunately for municipal elections with numerous competitors, name-recognition can be a determining factor. Consequently, it will be up to the underdogs, or the less well-known candidates, to acquire media coverage and raise their own publicity. An election should be based on issues and ideas, not name-recognition.

Important issues Calgarians are interested in: fiscal responsibility, the efficiency of city hall, Calgary’s “vibrancy” (especially downtown), mobility (ie. parking downtown and snow removal), Calgary Transit (expansion of the LRT, more effective bus routes), property taxes, urban sprawl, the airport tunnel, economic development, arts and culture funding, homelessness, sustainability, water usage, public safety and thinking for the future.

How to Get Involved:

1) Head over to Youth Can Vote for a dose of inspiration and news on the election and the candidates.

While you’re there, get information on the Mayoral Candidate Youth Forum, a great opportunity to meet candidates and question them on their policies and intentions. It’s on Sept. 21 at 5 p.m. at the Cantos Music Foundation (134-11 Ave SE). Everyone’s welcome, especially youth.

2) Go to Rise Up Calgary to get inspired by “Rise Up,” an election song by Melissa D’Souza. Then, click on Candidate Profiles for concise info on all the competitors.

3) Hit up YouTube and check the channels of tech-savvy candidates:

Craig Burrows, Joe Connelly, Bob Hawkesworth, Kent Hehr, Barb Higgins, Alnoor Kassam, Jon Lord, Ric McIver, Naheed Nenshi, Wayne Stewert

Streamline the process by watching my top five variety pack of videos:
[youtube gU_T7rRtLyI] [youtube vTfxgIOGg6M] [youtube fcIo37Jkwu8] [youtube 89bzyRXK9nQ] [youtube WX3iBHm4vO8]

4) Facebook them:
Joe Connelly, Kent Hehr, Bob Hawkesworth, Barb Higgins, Paul Hughes, Alnoor Kassam, Ric McIver, Naheed Nenshi, and Wayne Stewart.

5) Check out their websites:

Craig Burrows, Joe Connelly, Bob Hawkesworth, Kent Hehr, Barb Higgins, Paul Hughes, Jon Lord, Alnoor Kassam, Ric McIver, Naheed Nenshi, Wayne Stewert, Bonnie Devine, and Derek McKenzie.

6) Follow your favourite on Twitter:

Craig Burrows, Joe Conelly, Bonnie Devine, Bob Hawkesworth, Kent Hehr, Barb Higgins, Paul Hughes, Jon Lord, Alnoor Kassam, Ric Mciver, Naheed Nenshi, and Wayne Stewart.

-The Drummer for The Dudes, one of my favourite bands, Scott Ross, supported Joe Connelly at a Kidsport fundraiser. See it here.
-Naheed Nenshi has his own app in the Apple appstore, called “Naheed Nenshi for Mayor of Calgary.”
-Paul Hughes’ campaign is called PAULinate, because his platform is largely based on agricultural reform.

With Election Day coming close on Oct. 18, encourage friends and family to get out and vote. One thing’s for sure, changes are going to take place in Calgary.