Well, residents of the Sunshine Coast, here we are - one day to go before D-day. It's decision time - are you ready?
Over the past five weeks, we at Coast Reporter have done our best to provide you with the most comprehensive municipal election coverage that we could. With 50-plus candidates vying for your vote in the District of Sechelt, Town of Gibsons, Sunshine Coast Regional District, School District No. 46 and the Islands Trust, it has not been an easy task.
We presented profiles, all written by the candidates over four consecutive weeks. They were all different, had a different feel and a different slant. Candidates were asked the same three questions, but could choose to answer those questions however they wished and however they wanted those answers presented. We just provided them with the outlet.
We covered as many all-candidates meetings as we could and hosted three all-candidates forums for Gibsons, SCRD and SD46. We were thrilled with the electorate in Gibsons, where more than 350 engaged citizens packed into the Legion two Sundays ago for a lively discussion on the issues that matter to many.
We were equally as happy with the turnout for our regional district representatives and for those vying for a seat on our school board. It shows that residents are engaged and want to participate in this election - which is exactly what we wanted to see when this campaign began some five weeks ago.
If you missed any of our coverage or want to look back at any of the candidates' profiles, you will find everything listed under the Elections 2011 tab on our website at www.coastreporter.net. And you will want to be locked in to our website on election night Saturday as our staff will be out in the community getting reaction from some of the candidates and posting the results as soon as they are tabulated. We will, of course, have more comprehensive coverage in our print and on-line editions next week.
So where are we headed Saturday night? Well, that's up to you - the voters. At some times, this campaign took a nasty and heated turn, so we won't dwell any further on that. All we'll say is this: if you like what you see in this community, then vote for the status quo and for the incumbents you feel deserve another shot. And if you think change is in order, then vote for the candidates you feel can bring about that change. But the most important thing to remember is to vote. Vote with an informed mind and an informed heart - but vote.
