Getting people to run, and vote, in municipal elections the goal of new campaign

A lack of competition makes for a boring election — and a lack of representation on municipal councils, says Karen Oldford, president of Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador.

That's something a new campaign called Make Your Mark, which launched Tuesday, is hoping to change.

When you're finished, you left your community a better place for the next generations.- Karen Oldford

Oldford said in the last round of municipal elections, 55 per cent of councils were decided either by acclamation or didn't have enough candidates to create a full roster for election.

"That's huge, when you look at it. And another huge statistic to us is that 25 per cent of communities in our province today have still yet been unable to fill all of their seats," said Oldford.

Oldford, who is also the mayor of Labrador City, said a lack of competition isn't good for anyone — even people who get elected.

"I know the last time I ran, I was acclaimed. That wasn't a good feeling. I would sooner have had competition," she said.

"And even when I ran for Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador president, there was only one candidate had come forward when I put my name there, and I felt to have a healthy public democracy you needed to have competition."

Making better decisions together

The Make Your Mark website, which features municipal politicians giving their point of view about sitting on council, and advice to members of the public, is hoping to get more people to run for municipal office, and get out and vote.

I felt to have a healthy public democracy you needed to have competition.- Karen Oldford

Another key goal of the campaign is getting a more diverse set of people involved in municipal politics.

"When we look at the population of our councils, only 37 per cent of the participants are women, and only 3.5 per cent under 35, so if we look at our communities, that's not really what we see," Oldford said.

"All of us together, when we sit around that council table planning for the future of our communities, will make better decisions."

Oldford has been involved in municipal politics for years, and has some insight into what would make a good candidate.

"Wanting to make a difference in your community, wanting to make sure that when you're finished, you left your community a better place for the next generations," said Oldford.

In addition, an ability to plan for the long-term and having a thick skin would be good traits for someone looking to run.

"Being tenacious, because it's going to take time. You don't solve problems overnight, it often takes a number of years to get to the point where you're actually seeing something concrete happen. And that's very fulfilling," she said.

"And having the willingness to learn because there's a lot of regulations and rules that we have to follow as municipal councillors."