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More candidates may have impact on voter turnout

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In Barrie
Sep 23rd, 2010
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By RAYMOND BOWE BARRIE EXAMINER Sept. 23 2010
An eight-way race to become Barrie’s next mayor could attract more voters to cast their ballot, says a politics professor at Georgian College. “When you have eight mayor candidates, you hope that they’re going to try and get as many people out as possible, because the margin (of victory is going to be) so thin,” said Barry Woods, who teaches political science at the local college.
Voter turnout has been lacking in Barrie’s recent municipal elections. In 2003 and 2006, about 30% of eligible voters went to the polls.
“With the number of candidates out there beating the bushes, I think we’re going to see more votes and a higher turnout than the one-third that we traditionally get,” Woods said.
When asked whether it could get up to half of the eligible voters, Woods responded, “let’s not get crazy,” adding he suspects the increase will be proportional with the population growth over the last four years.
The eight candidates for Barrie mayor are incumbent Dave Aspden, Harry Ahmed, Rob Hamilton, Carl Hauck, Jeff Lehman, Mike Ramsay, Darren Roskam and Joe Tascona.
The final result is expected to be extremely close, with the winner possibly garnering only 25% to 30% of the popular vote on Oct. 25.
It doesn’t take much to get people out to the polls, whether that’s an undesirable development in their neighbourhood or issues relating to the city’s popul at i o n explosion, high taxes, hydro rates or tree removal.
“People who do enough complaining, or are upset about something, that will motivate them to get out (and vote),” Woods said. “A lot of times it’s just one issue.”
However, there tends to be a sense of cynicism among older voters, Woods said, while younger voters have yet to realize the importance of casting a ballot.
Other issues that were prominent in the last four years that people might still be hot under the collar about are the ethanol plant that was proposed for the former Molson brewery. The plan has since been scrapped and the building razed. Like the stench people were concerned about, the issue could still linger.
“That got them to participate, that got their backs up,” Woods said.
Other issues at the heart of this election, Woods said, will be decisions made by city politicians about the new YMCA (which has since been abandoned) and redevelopment of the Allandale train station.
“All of those people that were overwhelmingly upset about the Y and that whole process are going to come out and participate now,” he said.
When people grow that attached to an issue, they don’t forget.
“It’s not an overwhelming desire to be a great citizen, or participate in democracy,” Woods added. “It’s about some-t hing that’s upset them. It’s almost like an anti-vote.”

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