Trevor Miller
I think in large part, it’s due to the mostly thankless nature of the positions, and the kind of commitment they represent.
There are a number of big issues facing the city, and there is no chance council or the school board will be able to please everybody in a community where people can be very vocal about the things they don’t like.
With a lot at stake and a virtual guarantee that whatever they decide there will be backlash from somewhere, we should be more surprised that we can fill the roster at all, let alone field more candidates than there are open positions.
Trevor Miller is a local writer and essayist.
Doreen Murray
What comes to my mind is public apathy. It is a shame, really, because it does require a whole community to run a municipal government effectively.
Unfortunately, with our very diverse population, it becomes difficult to find many who have the necessary skills required to run for public office.
Another factor is what I call the one-industry town syndrome, whereby some folks have no long-range plans for even staying in our community, let alone engaging in public affairs.
Age may also be a factor. If you are senior, do you really want to take on the stress?
Doreen Murray is a semi-retired businesswoman.
Ken Mansell
This seems to be a common problem in northern and rural areas.
In Flin Flon we have many retirees and seniors who have simply run out of steam while many younger residents have their days full of work and family.
These positions require a lot of energy. Our service clubs and volunteers face the same problems.
City council faces even more pressure as the squeeze is put on the lake people, many of whom are friends and relatives of the townies; not a position I think many potential candidates want to be in.
Trying to keep us from sliding into bankruptcy would not make it an easy job, either.
Ken Mansell is a retired Flin Flonner.
