Dear Editor:
Unfortunately the Urban Growth Strategy that was formulated over the past year or so and presently before the Agricultural Land Commission seems to have become the focal point of many of the candidates running for election.
It appears that a good number of candidates have publicly declared they will withdraw the application.
Why would they alienate the commission by squashing this plan before they make their ruling? Doesn’t this really mean they do not require the land commission to be involved in our community planning, ever again. This is ridiculous!
What about the folks who participated in the Urban Growth Workshops and Surveys last year? Don’t their opinions matter?
Are these candidates afraid the land commission will agree in some form that urban growth should actually occur in some of these areas that are already serviced as opposed to natural hillsides?
Are we going to tie up these serviced areas for ever, and extend a sewer system when we are only using a small portion of the pipe already in place?
Do people actually think we can afford that?
I believe this election is pivotal. We either elect a slate of unknown one-issue people and suffer the consequences for not just four years, but generations, or we continue with an experienced core that can carry on with the programs in place such as cost control, water separation, Garnett Valley system replacement, road upgrades, etc.
Friends are asking me, “Who should I vote for?” They have never heard of many of the candidates and I certainly haven’t seen many of them on planning committees or community volunteer groups.
Also, I would think to seriously run for municipal office, a candidate should have a number of years in the background in order to at least partially understand the issues.
For those that want change, even if all the incumbents get reelected there will still be three new faces at the table.
I am sure there is a lot more to operating this community than one issue or collecting friends on Facebook and Twitter.
Most importantly though, be sure to vote. Only 37 per cent of us did in the last election. That`s embarrassing.
Don Hudgeon
Summerland
