By Anne Finlay-Stewart

It is appears that seven percent of Owen Sound voters need no more time to consider the options and have already cast their ballots at one of the advance polls.

If you are one of the 93%, I invite you to sit down today with a relaxing beverage of your choice and consider the following.

Since the election of October 2010, there have been changes in our city. We elected a new mayor, three new city councillors, hired a new city clerk, city manager and director of operations. We have built an impressive regional recreation centre and replaced end-of-their-lives ice rink, swimming pool and skateboard space with two ice pads, competition-sized and therapeutic pools, and a new skateboard park. We have opened a new family health centre, celebrated 100 years of Harrison Park, opened new community housing and started three large downtown residential projects. Dozens of new businesses have opened, new families have moved to town, a Muslim Centre has opened, more than one heritage building has been re-purposed for the community's use, and a coalition has been galvanized to fight poverty. That's off the top of my head.

In the same time frame, provincial transfer payments to the city have dropped substantially, fire and police costs have risen just as dramatically, the ash borer has arrived in Ontario, businesses have closed, the PPG plant has been partially demolished, people have left town and the BCK and Russell Brother properties remain undeveloped.

And social media has found its voice in the municipal process. For good or ill.

Before he had filed his nomination papers, one candidate for council said he had never seen "so many disgruntled people in Owen Sound". I had not shared his experience up to that point and then I found them. On line.

During this campaign I have been referred to on social media as an "apologist" for the our city council and staff. I am sure there are people at city hall who passed their coffee through their noses on reading that, as they have more than once seen me as a thorn in their sides. My own self-description might be "a citizen passionate about her community and fellow city-mates with an unusually geek-ish interest in the process of governance".

For one thing, I have read many pages of the Ontario Municipal Act, highly recommended to anyone who is running for office (especially sections 224 and 225) or needs a really effective soporific before bed. During this campaign I have heard more than one candidate suggest policies that received great support on social media but are frankly not legal under our governing legislation. The city staff will straighten them out if they should find themselves at council orientation meetings.

I have been asked why I do not throw my hat into the ring and the answer is simple – my skin is too thin and my fuse is too short. Watching a sitting councillor's calm demeanor and respectful response as a resident literally screamed in his face filled me with awe. I have every respect for each person who has voluntarily put themselves in this kind of "harm's way".

On October 27, we will each individually mark one ballot for the mayor, deputy mayor, councillors and school trustee of our choice. In early December, those elected will take their seats at the table and begin the work on your behalf that will make campaigning for your vote seem like a vacation.

Let's turn out in record numbers to cast our votes, not to show how disgruntled we are, but to demonstrate how important we consider this work to be. And when our votes and the votes of all our neighbours have been counted, let's celebrate the process of democracy we claim to value, and give our elected officials all the help we can to do their job.

Anne Finlay-Stewart is Community Editor of Owensoundhub.org. She can be reached at annekfs@gmail.com.