The four-week race is over, and residents in the Foothills can put the 2019 provincial election behind them for another four years.
Regrettably, as of this writing, the Western Wheel isn’t 100 per cent sure who won, in fact it would be an educated guess. Ms. Notley didn’t do community newspapers coming out on Wednesday’s any favours by having a Tuesday night election with the polls closing past the Wheel’s deadline.
So, there won’t be any Chicago Daily Tribune DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN-like headlines here, but check out the Western Wheel’s website for results from April 16.
An educated guess may be what the voters were doing as they went to the polls in Highwood, even though candidates attempted to get their word out by door-knocking and reciting political party jargon (script?).
There was little chance to hear the candidates debate, skewer and flush out platforms while amongst themselves.
To the Okotoks Chamber of Commerce’s credit, it held a well organized forum on Friday night. Unfortunately it was the lone forum for Highwood candidates.
Through no fault of the Chamber, Friday’s forum was hampered by NDP candidate Erik Overland not attending. With the NDP and UCP expected to battle it out in the April 16 election, there was a giant hole on stage.
Okotoks Councillor Ed Sands, who attended the forum, is right when he states more forums are needed. When Sands ran for the federal Macleod Conservative nomination against Ted Menzies in the 2000s, he was in front of the public in debates so much it was as if he was in another successful Dewdney Players production.
Forums provided fresh debate and food for thought for Okotoks area voters. That food was missing from the election buffet of the past four weeks.
