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Got some election signs out today
28 August 2010
Dug out some of my old election signs from 2006 today, and Susan and I cleaned them and put about 25 together. Got a dozen or so on a few of the boulevards. Not the full complement of what I'm allowed - 50 - just a teaser. Anyone want a lawn sign? Email me if you do.
I saw signs for Cooper, Lloyd (Kevin), Lloyd (Rick) and Jeffrey out already. Not a lot, just in a few strategic locations. I'm sure the witless little twerps who kick them down for fun every election will be out in force this week, looking to cause some damage any way they can.
Signs can go out 60 days before the election, so August 26 was the first day allowed. It's a bit of a gamble whether to put them out early, or wait. Is the likely damage worth the extra exposure?
Municipal politicians don't get to write anything off - not like our provincial or federal counterparts. We personally (or through campaign donations) have to pay for everything, with no tax breaks (or even to give donors a tax receipt). That's why it can be discouraging and hard on morale to have to do damage control on signs that the teens destroy.
And destroy they do. After three campaigns, I estimate that a third of my signs each campaign are either destroyed or made sufficiently unusable to have to be trashed. I try to recycle my signs, because I hate to waste the plastic or add to the landfill. But over three campaigns, I'd say I've had 150-200 signs destroyed. That's about an expensive lesson.
Still, what can I do? Signs really do have to go out, because candidates need the name recognition.
At best, 44% of eligible voters actually cast a ballot in our municipal elections, which is, of course, better than the 23% in Ajax last election. We're at the upper end, but in general municipal elections have low turnouts. Without the efforts of VOTE or CCRA to gather support for their Chosen Seven (six of whom were actually elected last time), the turnout may be smaller this year. I'm predicting under 40%.
But who knows what will galvanize the public this time around and draw people to vote? Maybe it is the patios, or the Admiral Collingwood, or the money wasted on legal bills for the mayor's education development charges, or the downtown-killing commercial sprawl council approved. Maybe voters will send in their ballots simply because they're fed up and want a change. I'd love to be wrong anbd see the percentage skyrocket over 50%.
I saw signs for Cooper, Lloyd (Kevin), Lloyd (Rick) and Jeffrey out already. Not a lot, just in a few strategic locations. I'm sure the witless little twerps who kick them down for fun every election will be out in force this week, looking to cause some damage any way they can.
Signs can go out 60 days before the election, so August 26 was the first day allowed. It's a bit of a gamble whether to put them out early, or wait. Is the likely damage worth the extra exposure?
Municipal politicians don't get to write anything off - not like our provincial or federal counterparts. We personally (or through campaign donations) have to pay for everything, with no tax breaks (or even to give donors a tax receipt). That's why it can be discouraging and hard on morale to have to do damage control on signs that the teens destroy.
And destroy they do. After three campaigns, I estimate that a third of my signs each campaign are either destroyed or made sufficiently unusable to have to be trashed. I try to recycle my signs, because I hate to waste the plastic or add to the landfill. But over three campaigns, I'd say I've had 150-200 signs destroyed. That's about an expensive lesson.
Still, what can I do? Signs really do have to go out, because candidates need the name recognition.
At best, 44% of eligible voters actually cast a ballot in our municipal elections, which is, of course, better than the 23% in Ajax last election. We're at the upper end, but in general municipal elections have low turnouts. Without the efforts of VOTE or CCRA to gather support for their Chosen Seven (six of whom were actually elected last time), the turnout may be smaller this year. I'm predicting under 40%.
But who knows what will galvanize the public this time around and draw people to vote? Maybe it is the patios, or the Admiral Collingwood, or the money wasted on legal bills for the mayor's education development charges, or the downtown-killing commercial sprawl council approved. Maybe voters will send in their ballots simply because they're fed up and want a change. I'd love to be wrong anbd see the percentage skyrocket over 50%.
