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6 THE NEW TANNER THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2006 EDITORIAL Distributed to every home in Acton and area as well as adjoining communities. 373 Queen Street East, Unit 1 Acton, Ontario L7J 2N2 email: thenewtanner@on.aibn.com Frances Niblock Mike OLeary Angela Tyler Janis Fread Rebecca Ring Publisher Editorial Ted Tyler Hartley Coles Editorial Contributors Advertising and Circulation Composing Marie Shadbolt Bruce Cargill Danielle McIsaac Janine Taylor By Angela Tyler with Hartley Coles (519) 853-0051 Fax: (519) 853-0052 Every effort will be made to see advertising copy, neatly presented, is correctly printed. The publisher assumes no financial responsibility for typographical errors or omissions in advertising, but will gladly reprint without charge that part of an advertisement in which an error may occur provided a claim is made within five days of publication. All articles, advertisements and graphic artwork appearing in The New Tanner is copyrighted. Any usage, reproduction or publication of these items, in whole or in part, without the express written consent of the publisher of The New Tanner is a copyright infringement and subject to legal action. Serious contender The New Tanner has a policy of forbidding endorsements of any candi- dates in municipal, provincial and federal elections. This newspaper tries to be fair to all candidates during an election. It is up to the candidates to spread their message to the electorate, preferably with advertisements. However, it is often tempting to overlook the policy when there is one individual who has particular skills, expertise and temperament which would make him or her outstanding candidates for a post. Take the election for Halton Regional Chairman which has four can- didates for the job which Joyce Savoline is leaving, after an outstanding career in municipal politics. Three of the candidates for the job are from the south. The other, Brent Marshall, is from Acton, with 36 years of public service, eight of them as Haltons Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). Marshall has his work cut out for him against the candidates from south Halton, one of whom, Gary Carr, served as Liberal Member of Parliament before being defeated by Conservative Garth Turner in the federal election of 2006. The other two are relatively unknown in north Halton. Brent Marshall has impressive credentials making him a strong contender for the job including the support of retiring chairman Joyce Savoline. As CAO Marshall was the chief policy advisor to Halton Regional Council, responsible for the administration of all the Regions departments. His administrative and management skills which often found him dealing with complex and sensitive skills were there for all to see. Local people who dealt with Marshall as CAO have been impressed with his skill as an administrator and his non-partisan approach to issues. Much of the Regions strong presence in north Halton can be credited to his knowledge of the area and the ability to work with elected officials to fix real and perceived inadequacies. Some may perceive the change from administration to politician as a big gap to bridge. That may have been true in the past but interaction between administrators and elected officials now has reduced that gulf to minimal. Brent Marshalls candidacy for Haltons top post should be one seriously considered. Election brouhaha Well be watching with more than a little interest at the municipal election in Guelph/Eramosa Township this November as voters are in- troduced to the Vote by Mail method. It replaces the traditional polling place vote and eliminates advance votes and proxy voting. Guelph/Eramosa Council is introducing the Vote by Mail to see if the abysmal numbers in municipal elections can be bolstered by this relatively new method. Only 30 per cent of eligible voters voted in the last election. Councillors figured Vote by Mail was worth a try. Were also watching the Guelph/Eramosa election to see how voters respond to accusations by Mayor Clint Martin that councillors were meeting with CAO/Clerk Janice Sheppard and without him in town. It started a brouhaha following the October 2 meeting of council with some heated words exchanged with the mayor. Clint Martin refused to be drawn out further on his accusation of councillors meeting without him, saying only it had been brought to him by witnesses and will be out in due course, following an investigation. Both councillors White and McCrae attempted to draw the mayor out to say the alleged meeting was illegal but he refused further comment. An illegal council quorum is one in which some members meet to discuss township business without announcing the meeting and inviting all members of council. The accusation obviously stung councillors whose reaction suggested they maybe protested too much. It gave some substance to the charge of some sort of meeting, illegal or otherwise. The accusation, coming as it did, on the threshold of the new Vote by Mail election, pointed out a weakness in that method of voting. Voters were sent voters kits this week. If they are filled out and mailed on or before November 3 then there still may not be any resolution to the mayors accusation and it could hurt the accused. MSB READS FOR MS: Students at McKenzie-Smith Bennett School will increase their literacy skills and raise money for Multiple Sclerosis by taking part on the MS Read-a-Thon by collecting pledges based on the number of books they read. During an assembly last Friday, MS spokesman Aimee St. Cyr used student volunteers to show how MS affects the nerves. Frances Niblock photo Angela appreciates column ideas When you write a column in a paper, it seems you always have people offering ideas of what to write about. This is what is hap- pening to me lately. One of the Dudes customers suggested an idea to him. When I heard it, I knew it was a great idea, however, I couldnt write about it because it would be call- ing the kettle black, as they say. She said I should write about people at Sobeys who dont return their grocery cart to the cart return area and leave them aimlessly in the parking lot. How could I write about that when I am probably the worst offender? I know people with new cars are very protective of their vehicles. They hate it when a cart happens to roll into their vehicle, but I always try to make sure my abandoned car is secure. I opt to keep the cart retriever guy employed and leave my cart in the parking lot. I am sorry if my cart hits your car. I do my best for it not to happen. A few days ago, a rural reader called in angst. He was frustrated because Canada Post after 70 plus years decided to change his mail box delivery to a community mail box. I am afraid, although he has decided to protest the change, probably wont have much suc- cess. The community mail box is the new way. I know because I have to go to one, too. At home the papers are left under the mat and anything else is shoved in the door handle or laid on the porch to blow away with the wind. I thought about getting a mail box but I also thought why bother? To the reader, I feel your pain but honestly, youre up the creek. You have no choice but to either go to the community mail box or to the post office. On Saturday evening in a conversation with some other couples we ended up talking about column ideas. I voiced concern about election signs and how much I despised them. I find they clutter the countryside and really, do they really sway the voter? Many agreed but one friend thought that perhaps real estate signs offered more colourful interest. I think he has a point. I guess there is an argument of repetitiveness. It may get into the voters head to vote for the persons sign they see the most. Not for me. If the candidate comes to my door, offering real reasons why I should vote for him or her, it means more to me than any sign I see. I appreciate any ideas and com- ments, good or bad. Sorry I am a cart offender and I really feel for the guy with the mail problem but as far as the candidates go, please dont ask me to put up a sign, just come to the door and tell me why I should vote for you.