LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Better questions to ask candidates

Re: Choose carefully in local elections, Think Again, Michael Zwaagstra, Sept. 10, The Carillon.

Mr. Zwaagstra shares methods for gathering information on candidates in the upcoming Hanover School Division board of trustees election in an effort to ascertain whether they are ‘right-leaning’ or ‘left-leaning.’ Presumably, he does this because he knows that any candidate tagged ‘conservative’ is essentially guaranteed to win any election in Steinbach and the RM of Hanover.

It’s no secret that the current HSD board of trustees has had more than its fair share of controversy. They have made quite a name for themselves; not only locally, but also provincially, and even nationally.

It’s also no secret that our district has consistently been voting conservative ever since the days American Christian radio programs first began airing on Southern Manitoba’s local radio stations. (Prior to that we generally voted liberal.)

I would echo Mr. Zwaagstra when he implores, ‘Make sure you choose carefully.’ Does ‘voting conservative’ mean what it did at one time? The stable, balanced, conservative era of Duff Roblin, Jake Epp, Jim Penner, and Albert Driedger is long gone. Increasingly, Canadian conservatism is being infiltrated with American Christian Nationalist ideology and a highly divisive, irrational, and unhinged MAGA influence also imported from the U.S. Unfortunately, one needs to look no further than our current HSD school board for evidence.

We have all witnessed the economic, social, and political turmoil the MAGA fiasco has brought upon the United States. Do we really wish to duplicate those conditions here in Canada?

I’m in agreement with much of what Mr. Zwaagstra proposes. It is crucial voters find out as much information about prospective candidates as they possibly can.

But may I suggest that there are better ways to evaluate a candidate than by simply placing them into mutually dismissive categories of ‘left-leaning’ or ‘right-leaning.’

Are they competent? Do they actually understand the role and responsibilities of a school trustee? Do they have the ability to understand complex situations?

Are they pursuing a position on the board for the right reasons? (Seeking to push a personal religious agenda is a wrong reason. As is running to gain stature in the community and/or church.)

Are they professional? What do their actions and demeanour reveal about them?

Are they people of integrity?

Are they team players?

Are they transparent?

Do they respect provincial law and HSD codes of conduct?

All of these are much better questions than simply trying to ascertain whether the individual candidates are ‘right-leaning’ or ‘left-leaning.’ Voters in HSD, for the sake of the diverse body of students attending HSD and the trained professionals tasked with teaching them, we need to do better. Significantly better.