There should be a by-election

Dear Editor,
Another councillor has resigned in Lake of the Woods since the nepotism debacle and now there are two seats vacant. The Mayor and what is left of the rest of council has decided to hold a special council meeting July 26, 2004, to deal with the empty seats.
The process was explained at the regular July council meeting in Morson on July 6. Names will be taken from anyone who meets eligibility requirements and then council will vote on whomever they decide they want to serve with.
If there is a tie after the vote, the names will be drawn out of a hat for the final decision. I couldn’t believe my ears when I asked the Mayor what the criteria for choosing a councillor was and got the following response: “Nothing.”
This is the most blatant attack on democracy I have seen or heard of in quite some time. At the June council meeting at the Bergland Hall, Mayor Pizey claimed a by-election would cost around $6,000 and would not be considered in the event of any councillors or the mayor herself resigning.
According to the town clerk, the last general election cost around $2,000. I’m wondering how in the world a by-election would end up with a price tag three times higher than the general election? Perhaps the mayor could enlighten the residents of LOW on this question.
I am also wondering why was the empty seat in Morson not offered to the third place finisher, as was the case in Bergland when the seat opened?
A by-election is a wonderful chance to create some healing in the community after the disastrous hiring decisions council made a few short months ago.
How can the good people that live, work and pay taxes in LOW Township trust two people that were involved in the nepotism scandal to not load up the empty seats with friends or family and make their clique even bigger and stronger? There are two empty seats and over two full years left on the current term before the next general election. A by-election should not even be a question. It should be a no-brainer; an automatic.
I urge everyone concerned about not being able to exercise your democratic rights to choose those who govern you to call the clerk’s office at 852-3529 (or email at gilesp@nwonet.net). Tell your government you want a by-election and if you don’t get one, tell them you want to be on the agenda for the council meeting July 26th so you can use your time to tell council who you would like to see fill the empty seat in your ward.
A summer by-election will likely increase voter turnout, as there will be more property owners around now than there would have been last November.
I hope council will have reconsidered its original decision by the time this letter is printed. I will be first to thank the mayor for doing the right thing if that is the case.
Sincerely,
Justin Gaudry
Morson, ON