Due to government regulations there will be no Mayoral or Councillor columns until after the local body elections I.E. for three months. We are told that this is to ensure that standing members do not use any advantage of information which they may have over new candidates.
However the regulation does not ban standing members from giving information or stating personal opinions, they just cannot do so in their official capacity.
It is doubly important that the residents deciding who they think should be ‘running the show’ for the next three years is when the maximum information needs to be available. Despite there seemingly to be a general belief to the contrary, there is no rule stopping this happening.
The concept of democracy has been evolving from the time of Plato who considered the prime importance to be a universal (as possible) franchise.
Aristotle added his consideration including that simple enfranchisement was not sufficient to result in good government. He emphasised that full and reliable information about candidates’ manifestos and commitments to them was equally important.
In local body elections there has always been a paucity of candidates’ information. A reason blamed for the low voter turn out, it is difficult to get enthused in an election where little is known about the candidates.
The Star will be doing its best to provide helpful information on the candidates. Space will be available for candidates to put together information about their selves which they will be urged to use. Not just a list of favourite foods or clubs they belong to. Voters want to know primarily why they are standing, what are their qualification? what are their position on the obvious problems which you will be having to make decisions on? And importantly, if elected will they keep residents informed on council matters?
