Campaigns give us signs, slogans, promises and plenty of reasons to vote for someone.
Choosing who should represent your community requires something more.
Before you cast your ballot, consider five questions.
1. Is the candidate promising something they can actually deliver?
A good promise isn’t simply something you want to hear. It should be something the office they’re seeking can actually influence — with a realistic path to getting it done.
Listen not only for what a candidate promises, but how they intend to deliver it.
iASK HOW.i
2. What does their record tell me about how they will serve?
Campaigns tell you who a candidate says they are. Their record can tell you more.
For incumbents, look at their decisions, attendance, leadership and record in office. For new candidates, consider their experience, judgement, community involvement and how they’ve handled responsibility before asking for your vote.
iLOOK BEYOND THE CAMPAIGN.i
3. Are they offering solutions — or simply pointing out problems?
Finding problems is easy. Governing is harder.
Look for candidates who can explain what they would do, what it might cost, what the trade-offs are and how they would work with others to accomplish it.
iWHAT’S THE PLAN?i
4. When everything can’t be a priority, what will they prioritize?
Every community wants better roads, safer neighbourhoods, strong services, responsible taxes and smart growth. But governments have limited money, time and authority. Leadership is often about making difficult choices.
Pay attention to what a candidate would prioritize — and what those choices say about the Abbotsford they want to build.
iPRIORITIES REVEAL LEADERSHIP.i
5. Have I done enough homework to make this decision myself?
A familiar name, a lawn sign, a social media post or someone else’s recommendation can introduce you to a candidate — but they shouldn’t be the end of your decision-making.
Take the time to read about the candidates. Compare their priorities. Look at their records. Ask questions. Use more than one source.
Then make your own decision.
iMAKE YOUR OWN DECISION.i
Your Vote Is Your Decision.
You don’t need to agree with every position a candidate takes. And no candidate will have a perfect answer to every problem.
What matters is understanding who you’re voting for, what they stand for, what they can realistically accomplish — and why you’ve chosen them.