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ADVERTISING 905-640-2612 , Chuified: 1-800-743-3353 m- 905-640-8778 York Region Media Group community newspapers The Sun-Tribune, published every mursday and Satmday. is a division of the Meuoland Media Gmup Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary ofTorstar Corporation. Metroland is comprised of 100 community publications acmss Ontario. The York Region Newspaper Group also momma Liberal. serving Richmond Hill and Thomhill, Vaughan Citizen,The Era-Banner (Newmantet/Aurora), Matkham Economist (safffibune The Sun-Th'bune welcomes your let’ tars. All submissions mus! be less than 400 words and must include a daytime ‘elephone number. name and address The Sun-mbune reserves the right to publish or not publish and to edit for clar- ityandspace. memom. MOSH-Mum 6290MIMSt. gamma LMIG? Sun, Georgina Advocate, Yom Region Business Times. North of the City. yomegionmm and York Regan Printing. Mike Barwille mbanuiUeOymg.oom dandmwsOyrmg.com Carolyn Norman cnonnan@ynng.com Dawna Andrews jmasonflrmgmom Dismmmon Ammmc Pnonucnon Manager Sherry Day DISTRIBUTION 905-640-2612 LETTERS POLICY MEDIA Marketing INTERACTIVE EDITORIAL EDITORIAL 05640-2612 905-640-8778 s we â€" thankfully, I have to say â€"â€" near the final days of campaigning in the Oct. 25 municipal election, let's acknowledge the hundreds of candidates across our region who were willing to step up to the plate to make our communities better places for all of us. For months, most of them have been tramping through our neighbourhoods, knocking on doors and glad-handing at community and election events. Most of the campaigning has been clean and authentic, encouraging legit- imate discussion about issues that hit home: sustainable growth, economic development, congestion and fiscal responsibility. But there isn’t a single community that hasn’t been touched by campaign- ing of a difierent sort â€"â€" call it negaâ€" tive, attack or dirty politicking. it’s about using disreputable tactics to harm a rival’s campaign. Granted, it's tamer at the local level compared to provincial and national campaigns, but there was plenty of evi- dence of negative politicking. Re: Fake campaign pmmises from non-candidate, column by Jim Mason, Oct. 14. To name a few, there was a brown envelope with documents alleging conâ€" flicts of interest by a mayor that was to register. Mr. Mason. I flnught you declared in March when you shouted at me acmstain Street. (Newcomers should be made aware “Main Street” runs east and west through townStouflville”.) A local newspaper editor of your long standing with your knowledge of the history of the community and proven man- agement capabilities would seem to be a natural in any position on council. ' How to hire a politician With the position of fake editor open due to your fake candidacy, I offer the following: You suggest a summer con- cert series. Fat chance. In this day and age, such a feat could not be accomplished without some ridiculous cost to the tax- payer, as in stafi involvement and overtime pay. A “Shop Stduffville Cam- paign” would require many PUBLISHER Ian Proudfoot - N1. N , 8mm? Dirty pol i tics rears ugly head in races across region LETTERS TO THE EDITOR merchants to upgrade worn merchandise, as well as stay in town, perhaps even after dark. A one-way street behind a fake candidate’s officesounds a little self serving More sidewalks? We’re not using the ones we have now. As fake editor, I would com- mend all candidates for their commitment toward the betâ€" terment of the community. I predict this election will be won by the candidates with the most real votes. Lip service won’t cut it this time around. Before voting, check your candidates’ credentials and qualifications. You’re hiring on behalf of your corporation. Find out if they play well with others. Will they hold hands when crossing the street? In short, do they really understand the job at hand; do they appreciate the need for teamwork? Or are they also faking their role? mailed to media, candidates and citi- zens. ' There was a flyer questioning the motives and integrity of candidates because they don’t live in the ward in which they were running. There were hundreds of election signs destroyed, defaced or stolen. _ _ “There Were exaggerated or false reports made at the doors, including one that an incumbent was charged with drunk driving. which made their way to our newsrooms. THOMAS E. WINTERS STO UFFVILLE Debora Kelly t‘“‘“\“\\ While it might momentarily grab attention and coveted notice in the media, it doesn't engage voters in an election in which they typically have very little interest to Stan with. In her book, Dirty Politics, Kathleen Hall Jamieson says with this kind of polâ€" iticking, people “see themselves not as voters but as spectators evaluating the performances of those bent on cynical manipulations". A turn for the worse midway through what had been mostly positive cam- paigning was disheartening for com- munity activist Elliott Silverstein, a member of Vaughan’s task force for democratic reform. “ ..:it doesn't do much for those intel- ligently trying to cast a bqllpt.” Candidates who avoid fair, transparâ€" ent and appropriate debate of issues not only fail the public, but turn them off politics by reinforcing prevailing cynicism. An anonymous group calling itself Time For Change began running full- page newspaper ads and launched a slick website taking aim at incumbents. The “smear campaign” may have gar- nered attention, but if the “concerned citizens” wished to create discussion about an important issue, he says it fl“ '* m“ 'a“““\‘ I ‘ ‘--‘¥\\\ I“\\ Thé survey was clear in finding citi- zens don’t want nasty politics. He adds if we want better represen- tatives, we have to demonstrate better behaviour ourselves. “Negativity deteré people from vot- ing â€"â€" we saw that in the last election," Mr. Silverstein says. “It reinforces the concept that all politics are dirty, so why should I vote?” Don’t let the efiorts of the majority of good candidates go up_ in smoke. Vote for candidates who are talking the issues, suggesting solutions and explaining how their qualifications will help make a difference. likely only left voters confused. “It’s hard enough to campaign against incumbents,” he says. “This makes it harder." - “Before you vote Monday, do a bit of research if you haven’t already. Don't vote for candidates whose platforms are focused on trashing opponents; that’s not the kind of lead- ership we need to make our communi- ties even better. Debora Kelly is editor in chief of the York Region Media Gmup ‘nfi‘ ‘-‘-»‘ I\'A\\\\\‘-‘a‘ Dmncmn, REGIONAL Pnonucrs, Tamar‘s nouns Debra Weller Nicole Fletcher