Election time has come and gone. Princeton has experienced a real metamorphis, in part because of our past council and in part because of some extremely valuable volunteers. Each time there is an election these volunteers hold their breath and wait...who will get in? What will their mandate be? Will the volunteer groups still be considered an asset?
Election time is always a time of trepidation for that portion of the public that actually cares about the future more than that new pair of shoes they want or that new flat screen TV. The voters worry about silly things like; Will Canadians have enough to eat if we let genetically modified foods through corporations take priority over family farms? Will we have enough fresh water to drink? Will our children have a future or will we have our planet destroyed with human greed by then?
Some politicians campaign by taking the high road and others delve in the mud. Some try to stick with facts others spin webs of fantasy. They can promise things like no HST, more money for education, better health care and more jobs without analyzing what that really entails.
I do know that since the last election I have watched an impressive council get an amazing amount of projects done that really compliment our community. They rolled up their sleeves and got good value accessing millions of dollars in grant monies. Jason Earle did not promise anything when he campaigned last time other than that he would do his best to learn and he has. He has sprinted up the hill of municipal government education.
Frank Armitage brought with him many years of experience in government and his word earning top votes. Councillor Marilyn Harkness ran with experience behind her and many good relationships formed. It was enough.
Fourth place had everyone sitting on the edge of their seats. Would it be Ray Jarvis who had loads of experience, but health problems over the past while or Kim Maynard who had proven himself a worthy opponent through his volunteer work. Maynard was up by ten, then five, then eventually 20.
What interested everyone most were the other two races. Would the man with 19 years of experience in municipal politics win the mayor’s seat or the man with no experience in municipal politics? One grew up in Princeton, the other spent a large portion of his life in South Africa. Their portfolios were miles apart. It turned out that no experience, but lots of promises won the day.
Incumbent Brad Hope beat out Charles Weber. Life can now return to normal with all eyes watching. Will Princeton see new life, promises filled and more growth or will promises fall flat? Keep those mail outs. Make the hot seat hot. Hopefully, it will come with a bright light and not a lighter with no fluid.