It is the tough reality of seeking office that in Canada's municipal elections, there are a few winners and there are many losers.

It has become a tradition that my last column of the year says very nice things about some sector of municipal government. This year is no different. And my choice of a big THANK YOU in 2023 is the people who run for office, but don't get elected.

It may seem like an unusual selection, but surely almost everyone who runs for public office in today's environment deserves applause. (There are, of course, some nut bars who run just to be perverse or hurtful. Boo.)

Any election campaign is a nasty and mean-spirited gauntlet of social media, investigative reporters, and 'oppo'—probing research into an opponents' background from other candidates.

Usually, people who run for city or town council are sincere local residents who genuinely believe that they can make a difference for their community. They often bring thoughtful ideas about neighborhood or civic issues. They can provide some fresh thinking on council, which is always a useful occurrence.

Their participation in the election campaign provides voters with a very important window into other candidate's platforms and promises, as well as scrutiny of an incumbent's track-record over her/his time in office. Prospective voters can learn much from a vigorous election campaign, and that is valuable in helping voters to make decisions on who they will support.

Running for a council seat takes lots of time, money, energy, physical and mental toughness, and a conviction that the planks in your platform will stand up to scrutiny and abuse. And to be blunt, the system is rigged a bit in favor of incumbents because of name recognition. (That is another reason I favor term limits, but that's another discussion). In other words, most first-time candidates are going to lose.

Of those, many will shrug, rest up, move on, and never run again. A few will remain active in scrutinizing local government. Some will be appointed to a civic board or commission. Some will make valuable contributions to improve their community. A few will decide to run again, and some of them will be elected.

After a loss in an election, the losing candidates fade away quickly. The media stop phoning, the TV lights are turned off, and the social media posts don't get much response.

It hurts to lose. Nobody likes it. But our system of democracy and how we choose our local governments are the foundation of our nation-building today.

Without good people stepping forward to offer their candidacies, local government would be poorer and weaker. That's why this year I am saluting and thanking all the people who made that hard decision to run for municipal office and didn't get elected. You made an important contribution to your community. Please, stay involved. And, bravely, even think about running again.

 
As the year ends, my thanks to all the readers of these columns, especially for your emails and feedback. Thank you to the staff of Municipal Information Network for their professionalism. And season's greetings and Happy New Year to all.

GORD