Getting ready to vote in Newmarket

With Newmarket averaging just over 30% voter turn out in the past few municipal elections, it seems that the ballot box question for most voters is, "Do I even bother to go to the ballot box?"

Low turn out means those who do show up to vote are given proportionally more power over those who stay home.  If your vote is so significant, isn't it worth some basic prep work before marking your X?  Unfortunately, not everyone feels that way.

Here is a simple checklist to determine whether you are an informed Newmarket voter or an ignorant Newmarket voter.

The ignorant Newmarket voter:

• Chooses a candidate based on how much he/ she "loves Newmarket". (Can't we just assume that all municipal candidates love Newmarket?  Why else would they be running?)
• Bases his voting decision on the number, color, or size of signs.  
• Feels it is paramount that all members of council get along.  ("Getting along" is why we have so many issues in Newmarket.  We want council members to hold staff and each other accountable for delivering top notched services). 
• Believes that any candidate who holds an incumbent to task for his voting record is simply attacking Newmarket.  (Our incumbent politicians are not Newmarket although they would like you to think so).  
• Thinks the Newmarket Era is an unbiased source of local news.  (The paper has become a joke in terms of political coverage). 
• Believes the mayor and regional councillor positions are more powerful than a ward councillor.  (Each member of council has one vote so they are equals.)
• Is unaware that our taxes are among the highest in the GTA or that our local economy is moribund with an unemployment rate well above the national average.

The informed voter:

• Makes an effort to learn the issues by visiting candidates'web sites, attending the debate night, and emailing questions to the candidates.  
• Cares about each candidate's ideas to make Newmarket better.  (For some candidates, it may be tough to find if they have any ideas at all).  
• Participates in Facebook groups on local politics but also takes the partisanship with a grain of salt.
• Spots the difference between substance and spin in campaign materials.
• Is informed of each candidates qualifications: such as profession; legitimate volunteer work, (attending a gala fundraiser is not volunteerism); education; and other attributes.  (Remember, this is a job interview so you should know the candidate's resume).
• Understands that the most important job of a Newmarket council member is to make sure that local government runs well.  (And that is why I find it funny that most incumbents are obsessed with being seen at the Farmers Market.  What does the Famers Market have to do with the town's core services?)
• Knows a bit about the incumbent's voting record and has an opinion about whether he/ she deserves to be "re-hired". 
• Encourages family members, neighbors, and friends to be informed voters too.  

We all have a bit of homework to prepare for election day.  Let's hope that Newmarket voters take the few minutes required to become informed voters so that we can have the best local government that our town deserves.