Let me start by saying, I’m not part of a slate. That’s the only time I’ll say it, just so I’m not accused of protesting too much.
But there seems to be a lot of talk about election slates this time around. The recent allegation that a number of candidates, promoted as espousing similar opinions on the Uplands social housing process, constituted a slate, stirred some discussion. It turns out that none of those named had spoken to each other to organize themselves into a slate, and none I’ve spoken with knew the ad was coming or had any input to its text. Nobody in the election race seems to feel they gained promotional value from the ad other than drawing attention to the election (a good thing). Nobody outside of the discussion took notice. Not much of a slate I’d say.
Then it occurred to me that there were any number of blog and web sites where candidates were being ranked, straw polls conducted and ‘expert’ opinions shared. Each of these seemed to start sounding kind of ‘slate-ish’. They seemed to have a leaning or a commonality that gave me the feeling the group was more representative of the politics or mind-set of the author than the community. Fun, but too bad there wasn't a middle of the road, non-agenda, full and uniform source of information at election times for civic, provincial and federal choices. It would allow candidates to focus on personalizing their platform, providing more details, and dropping some of the platitudes and promises that get in the way of telling the story of the issues.
I know that forecasting is quite different than prognosticating or promoting but the line seems easily crossed sometimes. With the abundance of information sources we have, it becomes more and more difficult to find that dividing line between opinion and information.
So, my point is, be careful who you listen to, what you take for truth or interpretation, and on what information you evaluate your candidates. Certainly, don't believe the stories of a slate -- especially one that I might belong to since it doesn't exist. I encourage you to go to the source, call your candidate directly and ask a question or pose a challenge.
My number is 250-755-6465.
Roger McKinnon, Candidate
Mayor of Nanaimo
Facebook: Roger McKinnon
Twitter: @Roger_McKinnon
