RM elections

[jamesb]

To those of you who are unhappy with the state of your current rm council, pick up nomination papers, get a rate payer in the division you are running in to sign and run for election !! I feel for those RM who dont have enough turn over in coucillors. In my own we had 2 new ones last year and im told it will be at least two retiring this year. Many councillors will gladly step aside if someone else puts their name in. I believe many wait till the last day of nominations to put their name in expecting someone else to step forward.
I see alot of people on this website seemingly unhappy with the current state of their RM's and never run, too busy, not enough time etc , etc. Its time to step up boys and girls.

[grrrr]

Agree 100%.

[oneoff]

Every last council position is meant to provide an opportunity to reflect the needs and desires of the electorate at large. Without dialogue, openness, disclosure, interest in common issues and consultation with the electorate how can there be any meaningful democratic government.

I say that rural government has to be driven by ratepayers involvement. Right now that is lacking. After all, how broad is any support for anything beyond anyone's personal interests?
RATEPAYERS SHOULD BE SEEKING THEIR BEST REPRESENTATIVES. WE DON'T NEED OR WANT DIFFERENT COUNCILLORS JUST BECAUSE AN INDIVIDUAL HAS THEIR OWN Different AGENDA.

It is abundantly clear that council decisions are commonly made based on the personal interests of individual council members. In fact I will report that councillors commonly get their own motions adopted by favorably reciprocating their votes for supporting future issues concerning other councillors personal positions.
This is not a situation that is within the intent of any democratic principles; and not a compromising siuation that any individual should want to be involved in.


On top of that; with close rural networks of relatives and "friends" and supporters; the outcome of many rural elections is not likely to be determined on merit, ability or qualifications for the council position.

[$short]

Oneoff, submit your nomination papers and run
for council

[riders2010]

Don't know oneoff's situation but some and maybe many are run by one family and a group that it don't matter if you run or not they run the show no matter how corrupt or useless. Some are great but not all.

[furrowtickler]

Agree with $short. Otherwise just like one of the peanut gallery from the muppets , lots to say, nothing to do. dont like it change it.

[oneoff]

How would anyone even know there is anyone in the rural municipal muppet gallery? Have you ever attended?

[oneoff]

And while it is admirable that a very few promote running for office; would those same persons tend to support any candidates other than the established old boys network and their ongoing similar replacements?

Do you really want hiding public business behind locked doors guarding public troughs? And how many continue to support policies of never again holding a ratepayers meeting or at most having some fully trained facilitator controlling a "community planning process" worth tens of thousands of dollars".

And after literally months of "development" of the plan; nothing visible beyond an insignificant response to a shallow multiple guess survey is all that there is to show.

Sorry; but ordinary people are fully tuned out and disgusted.

Also resigned to the fates our despots have in mind.

And people just put up with it till they move on, or disappear. Sorry; but while "run for council" may be a good idea; those suggesters will also have to fill out that platform with some real explanation of the changes that they and the general population would wholeheartedly support?

[oneoff]

Ever wonder why there is a general refusal to allow council meetings (or even the rural municipal "muppet gallery" to be broadcast or televised.

I suggest it is because those in control fear that it would be found interesting or entertaining or perhaps informative; just as the muppet seies remains.
And so such public business will remain hidden for some very undemocratic reasons. And support for democracy will further deteriorate.

[oneoff]

Apparently there is nothing that anyone can do to stop municipal councillors being paid to attend a vote held under the rules of "The Local Government Elections Act". Their position was as "security".
And it was brought in the proper form to council's attention; and the municipal advisors, and the police; and the auditors; and even the public.

And ignored, perhaps minimized and made trivial; but never analysed for its seriousness.

And that is graphic evidence of the state of the backbone of all those pillars of democracy.

And this should be food for thought beyond the off the cuff suggestion of "running for council"

[oneoff]

And even consider these facts

A deemed "sufficient" Petition for a Referendum received by a municipal council. Council obviously decided they preferred not to have a vote.......aplied to Court of Queens Bench Chambers for "direction"......petitioner's representative served with court documents........requirement to engage lawyer in court in such cases where acting as other people's representative....... judge gives near instantaneous ruling that "vote be held as Act requires and awards costs.


So council gets revenge of sticking petitioners supporters with the $2901 shortfall because of the "legal tariff schedule". Remember all these costs (and the undisclosed council legal bills) was all entirely precipitated in whole by council's actions.
These defenders of statutory rights remain out of pocket $2901 of paid legal bills; and while they have clarified the law for future .......anyone could have come to the same conclusion by reading the Municipalities Act of Sask.

Good government? Poor losers? Which side should you be on?

More importantly would you continue to support incumbents or would such examples be seen as trivial and divisive in the community?

[oneoff]

When it becomes the norm to have no rebuttals, no sustantive debate; attempts to shut down "forums" for spreading one's opinions and views, abuses of power; using ratepayer's resources to only present council's position and propaganda..... is that acceptable government?.

[grrrr]

oneoff; If you do not run for council, I for one will no longer waste my time reading your posts.

[LEP]

I agree. You can't show up at meetings and spend countless hours
griping about the secrecy of your RM council, to not run.

It would be the ultimate in hypocrasy and would prove you are just
another coffee row complainer.

[oneoff]

And grrr if you don't tell me what you would look for (and would support)in a candidacy (such as mine); I wouldn't waste my time trying to represent someone such as yourself.