QUESTIONS AT MID-CAMPAIGN

THIS ELECTION THERE ARE CRITICAL AND COMPLEX SOCIAL ISSUES INVOLVING ADDICTION, MENTAL HEALTH, HOMELESSNESS, AND TRULY AFFORDABLE HOUSING WRITES COLUMNIST SYLVIA SUTHERLAND

There is less than a month to go before the Oct. 24 municipal election. As I write this, there have yet to be any all-candidates meetings, and it appears not many have been planned. Or, if they have, they are exclusive to certain groups.

Lacking these engagements, what information can help us make up our minds? The candidate who knocks on our door? Not bad, if we ask the right questions. Or, if we have no questions to ask, simply like the person. Dangerous, though. First impressions can later disappoint. Think voter regret — perhaps that is not an unfamiliar experience?

How about the candidates' websites? Some have better sites than others. That doesn't necessarily mean they will be better at governing. In most cases, usually someone else is running their website for them.

Social media? What a quagmire that is, with the haters and the lovers both active.

The plethora of signs which appears to be growing exponentially? The ones on public property may simply mean the candidate hasn't found enough private property for them. The resulting clutter does nothing to further their cause.

Brochures can be helpful. So can public policy statements. They give some idea where the candidate stands on important matters. Keep in mind, though, it is unlikely that we will agree with any candidate on everything. What are the crucial issues?

In this election, more perhaps than any in the recent past, there are critical and complex social issues involving addiction, mental health, homelessness, and truly affordable housing. The municipality's financial resources are limited. This calls for understanding and creativity, as well as cooperation with the other levels of government and cooperation among members of council. There is no room for any self-interest here. How good will the new candidate at our door be at doing that? How good have the incumbents seeking reelection been at doing that?

The mayor's race appears tight. YourTV is airing a mayoral debate at 7 p.m. on Oct. 12, which may help us make up our minds if we haven't already.

A challenge for any council should be how to retain the things that have kept people here, both those who have called Peterborough home from the beginning, and those of us who have come here and stayed. Some say we are losing that battle. Hopefully, not yet.

No result is in the bag for any candidate. The only thing of which I am right now certain is, judging from the signs, "Danger due to overhead wires" will sweep Fairbairn Street.