I would like to formally recognize and thank a Quinte West Councillor to who took an opposing viewpoint to my own last night for the best of all possible reasons.
Quinte West Council has decided to fill the seat left vacant by the recent death of Sally Freeman by appointing Leslie Roseblade to the post. The vote was 11-1. She will be sworn in next week.
The one person voting against it was my good friend Don Kuntze, who advocated for a by-election to be held instead. His motion failed to get a seconder, but I know he did it with the best of intentions.
I have spoken to Don about the importance of elections many times since we both ran (him successfully, me not so much) in 2018. He is a passionate advocate for the institution of elections, and the importance of giving the people a voice whenever possible.
The rest of Council saw it differently. Roseblade has the experience necessary to step into the role seamlessly. She was the next in line after finishing sixth in Ward One in the last election and will do Sally and the municipality proud when she takes over the seat.
By-elections are also costly, and asking the taxpayers to put up tens of thousands of dollars is often very unpopular, but still, Kuntze’s point is valid. Elections, by-elections, and the voters themselves should always be respected.
We must also remember that good governments encourage and respect different and even opposing viewpoints. It is as much a cornerstone of democracy as the ballot box itself.
I’m Paul; Martin and that’s what I see looking Beyond the Headlines.
