Candidates vying for election as councillors, mayors and wardens throughout the Pontiac are now off and running.

In the Municipality of Pontiac, the three candidates for mayor have all had the job before and are back for more. Same with the two candidates running for warden in the MRC Pontiac.

More than half of the 126 people running for mayor or councillor across the MRC Pontiac are unopposed and, with a month still left before election day, have already been acclaimed. 

Over the coming weeks, The Equity will help you stay informed as the election progresses across all 19 local municipalities.

Municipal politics is where the rubber meets the road on so many issues that directly affect our daily quality of life. 

By many accounts, the opportunity it offers to contribute to the well-being of our local communities can be a rewarding experience. Sure, it can be a hassle to take a call in the middle of dinner from someone looking for help with anything from a drainage problem, garbage pickup, snow plowing, a noisy neighbour or a washed-out road. At the same time, it’s good to know you can make a difference in peoples’ lives and in making our communities pleasant places to live. 

That’s not to say there aren’t many challenges and frustrations. Some questions that divide the community also divide the councils, and generate animosities and conflict. Unfortunately, unmediated social media are occasionally hijacked by gossip, unsubstantiated and often false accusations, half-truths and downright slanderous nonsense that undermines serious discussion of the issues.

Our representatives on Pontiac’s many councils can be only as effective as the electors allow them to be. They need our support and encouragement. They need to be treated with respect, even if we disagree with them. 

We all owe a big thank you to everyone who has decided to step up and run for elected office

Charles Dickson