AWARE O-M working to engage voters

Letter sent to the Orillia Packet and Times October 8 2010
Re:  Oro-Medonte deputy mayor defends stance on AWARE
AWARE Oro-Medonte is non-aligned group of individuals who share a common purpose that should be supported by the vast majority of citizens – a more transparent democracy, increased voter participation, and an overriding concern for our fragile environment.

It stands to reason that the group would not have come into being if our municipal government was a completely open book, if the majority of our citizens exercised their right to vote, and if we did not believe that our environment is under threat.
AWARE Oro-Medonte is the result of the amalgamation of Oro-Medonte Citizens Alliance and AWARE members in this municipality. Both organizations share a similar vision and, in the interests of not duplicating efforts, recently joined forces.
As with any new entity, there have been growing pains. Some members feel strongly that our mandate should be to endorse and actively support candidates who we feel best represent the values of AWARE. Others would rather that AWARE concentrate our energies on getting more voter participation and monitoring council after the election.
With the best of intentions, AWARE undertook to offer a questionnaire to all candidates so that, using our website, voters could read candidates’ answers and make their own determination. Interviews were also offered, although only five candidates participated. It was our hope that candidates would take advantage of the opportunities presented to make their positions widely known. In the end, AWARE Oro-Medonte named three candidates whose views most closely mirror our organization’s vision of transparency in government and commitment to protecting our environment.
In retrospect, perhaps the interviews should have been offered in a more obviously open forum. We gave assurances that conclusions would be subject to the approval of the candidates prior to posting on the AWARE Simcoe website. It is a sign of the prevailing mood in this election that non-participants doubt our integrity in posing suitable questions and providing unedited answers.
No one can ever, in conscience, claim to have no bias. Every person is entitled to a point of view that is uniquely her or his own. What is important is that we are all open to new ideas and ways to improve our society for the benefit of future generations. When voters don’t get engaged, councils become stagnant. It is our intention at AWARE Oro-Medonte to ensure that neither happens in the future.
Susan Woods
AWARE Oro-Medonte