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6 Independent & Free Press,Thursday, October 28, 2010 OPINION Silent majority Perhaps the television appeal of Dancing With The Stars was just too much. How else does one explain the fact that barely 25 per cent of Halton Hills's 40,086 voters made the effort to cast a ballot in Monday's municipal election? Was the lack of a mayor's race, the potential for rain, the shortage of "quality" candidates or (more likely) general apathy, the cause for an embarrassingly low voter turnout? Or maybe, just maybe, Halton Hills residents are so giddily happy with their political representation that they saw no point in voting, seemingly comforted by the knowledge that not casting a ballot would ensure a victory by an incumbent. Sorry folks, your no-show act was a disgrace-- even if you were pleased with the current crop of politicians. For the next four years Halton Hills council will look exactly the same as it has for the past three years, with the exception that a competent Ann Lawlor will replace a competent John Duncan in Ward 4 Mark Rowe offers a refreshing change from Rosanna Palmieri as the Catholic school board trustee, but that's it for new faces. The sweeping change experienced in other GTA municipalities wasn't expected, nor was it likely necessary here, but it's hard to digest the fact that three-quarters of the voting population in Halton Hills refused to express its opinion. Having only 25 per cent of the voting public decide the makeup of council, and in turn, the direction this town will take in the coming four years can hardly be deemed representational of the public at large. However, that's what we've been left with-- a case in which the vast minority rules. And if any of those in the "majority" intend to raise their voice on an issue in the coming four years we suggest they remain silent. They had their chance to speak up Monday and wasted it. 905-873-0301 Publisher: Ken Nugent General manager: Steve Foreman (sforeman@independentfreepress.com) Retail advertising manager: Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@independentfreepress.com) Managing editor: John McGhie (jmcghie@independentfreepress.com) Distribution manager: Nancy Geissler (ngeissler@independentfreepress.com) Classifieds Kristie Pells (classified@independentfreepress.com) Accounting Rose Marie Gauthier Editorial Cynthia Gamble: News editor (cgamble@independentfreepress.com) Ted Brown: Photography (tbrown@independentfreepress.com) Lisa Tallyn: Staff writer (ltallyn@independentfreepress.com) Eamonn Maher: Staff writer/sports (emaher@independentfreepress.com) WEB POLL RESULTS Was the media right to publish the lurid details from the Colonel Russell Williams trial? · Yes (56%) · No (36%) · Not sure (8%) Steve Nease Go to www.independentfreepress.com Letters to the editor Voter `ashamed' of Halton Hills Dear editor, I am hugely disappointed in the turnout for Monday's municipal election. My husband (Ward 2 candidate James Crammond) and I spoke to more than one half of the eligible voters in Ward 2 and without fail, they all insisted they were longtime voters. And yet, the overall turnout for this election was slightly more than 25 per cent. In my own poll, the total number of voters was 425 out of an eligible 2,000 people or 21 per cent. That translates to four people who didn't vote for every one who did. I'm ashamed of Halton Hills. I'm ashamed of a community where apathy runs so deep that no one aspires to be mayor, where people have no idea who their representatives are and no interest in knowing. I'm saddened to think that I've spent 16 years of my life being an advocate for people who can't be bothered to get off the couch once in four years. Makes me wonder why I bother. Stephanie Crammond, Norval Duo were unfair to `target' CtK Dear editor, Re: Students should take responsibility (Oct. 14 letter) It seems both unnecessary and unfair to target Christ the King Secondary School repeatedly in the lament of these two women. I agree that vandalism is unacceptable (who wouldn't) and that these eight people should set things right. However, eight individuals (who Ms. Unsworth and Ms. Murphy were told attend CtK) represent 0.005 per cent of a community of 1,600 people. Christ the King is exactly that-- a community. You will find sinners and saints, artists, athletes and academics, optimists and pessimists. You will find dedicated staff, involved parents and an excellent administration. These women are targeting their frustration at an entire community of people based on the actions of a few. I think we call that racism, bigotry and intolerance. Ladies, it seems to me you owe the community of CtK an apology and eight individuals owe you an apology and a table. Jennifer Webster, Georgetown Family's generosity leaves pair speechless Dear editor, On Sept. 10 my husband and I were celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary at Mattina Cucina restaurant in town and we got talking to a family at a table nearby. At the end of our meal, Cherie, our waitress, told us our bill had been taken care of and we later found out that the family we had been chatting to had paid for it. We were absolutely speechless as we had never met these lovely people before. I hope they read this letter as we would like to tell them how much we appreciate their generosity and kindness and will always remember them. Margaret and Roper Galloway, Georgetown Letters to the editor policy Letters must include an address and daytime telephone number. Anonymous letters will not be published. Letters should not exceed 150 words and may be edited for content and/or length. Publication is not guaranteed. E-mail: jmcghie@independentfreepress.com Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1. The Independent & Free Press The Independent & Free Press is published Tuesday and Thursday and is one of several Metroland Media Group Ltd. community newspapers. Editorial and advertising content of The Independent & Free Press is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.