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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, September 26, 2014 | 6 "I don't need a paper to tell me how to vote. I need a paper to report." This quote, that appeared as an online comment when a Hamilton Spectator editor was asked to weigh in on the practice of newspaper endorsements, spotlights a reader's search for information as opposed to guidance. We are in the throes of the 2014 municipal election, with election day looming Monday, Oct. 27. Some 68 people have declared their candidacy and the of ce they seek. But with the exception of a trio of all-candidates' debates set so far there doesn't appear to be much happening on the campaign trail. Where are the issues? Where is controversy, if any? Despite the fact that most Oakville residents will agree we live in a great town, surely there are critical issues. Instead, this municipal election appears to be a race based on endorsements. Though media (including the Oakville Beaver) often writes an endorsement editorial as an election draws near, it is generally delivered in the wake of coverage of some fulsome debate and reporting on the candidates and the issues. Historically, the practice has polarizing effects. That polarization is evident locally as public debate lags while the endorsements game is in full swing. We would prefer to report on campaign issues rather than who is supporting whom in town. Mayor Rob Burton hosted a press conference days into the election campaign in which he endorsed everyone on the current council -- an almost-full slate of incumbents (save for retiring Keith Bird's seat). All incumbents were present at the press conference, except Pam Damoff of Ward 2, who offered that other business had prevented her from being there. Ward 5 council hopeful Linda Nazareth was swift in issuing a press release stating her disappointment in Burton's move and offered other criticisms such as the disproportionate male/female makeup on council and her distaste for settling for the status-quo. Ward 1 regional and local candidate Sean O'Meara led a letter to the editor expressing disagreement with Burton's strategy. This week, Damoff announced her endorsement of O'Meara -- in the ward next to hers and in a race against an incumbent. We have received letters from readers taking offence at the endorsement campaign. The Beaver cannot print rafts of who-endorseswhom stories or letters from each of the many local candidates, but we urge readers to get information, ask pertinent questions and make a sound decision. Let's put aside the personal endorsements and with the all-candidates' meetings coming up, let's get down to the interesting stuff of elections -- the issues that are near and dear to all residents. ··· To assist you with your decision making the following meetings are being held: An all-candidates meet and greet and mayoral debate Wednesday, Oct. 1 to be hosted by the Oakville Chamber of Commerce, another Tuesday, Oct. 7 hosted by the Bronte Village Residents Association (BVRA) and followed by a meeting on Oct. 8 to deal speci cally with Ward 3. Where are the issues? Editorial M A D H A T T E R S "Connected to your Community" 447 Speers Road, Oakville ON, L6K 3S4 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Editorial Department: (905) 632-0588 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 52 | Number 112 The Oakville Beaver is a division of Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Vice ­President and Group Publisher of Metroland West Regional General Manager Halton Region Editor in Chief Advertising Director NEIL OLIVER DAVID HARVEY JILL DAVIS DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor ANGELA BLACKBURN Trafalgar Lodge Retirement Residence held a Mad Hatters' Tea, with staff serving a variety of teas and desserts to the residents in the building's courtyard, against the backdrop of live musical entertainment. Pictured, Dorothy Campbell, 95, (left) chats with her friend and birthday girl Helen Carnegie, who turned 94 that day. Having donned their party hats, the pair celebrated over a nice cup of tea. | photo by Graham Paine ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager Director of Production SANDY PARE MARK DILLS It's time to get out and meet the candidates Re: Burton's endorsements for Oakville council not popular with everyone, Oakville Beaver, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014 In response to this story, and judging by the rash of mutual political endorsements already appearing on the websites and Facebook pages of incumbent municipal and regional politicians seeking re-election, I am increasingly concerned about the electorate's ability to meet the challengers and get to know their positions in time for the Oct. 27 election. This is particularly critical given how many challengers are in the race. To the best of my knowledge, there is only one all-ward all-candidates meeting scheduled. Letter to the Editor MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Director of Distribution CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager For voters to fully exercise their democratic rights -- by understanding the issues confronting the upcoming council and evaluating all available candidates --- public forums must be hosted by civic minded organizations and associations. Without multiple opportunities for open, public debate, this election risks becoming nothing but an exercise in cronyism and backslapping. Please join me in encouraging our business community, churches, arts organizations, multicultural groups and other celebrators of free speech and voter rights to come forward to host these important events. Pat Atkinson, Oakville Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Another strategy would have sufficed Oakville's incumbent mayor's endorsement party for a slate of 100 percent incumbents is unseemly. This is reminiscent of the type of one-party rule I associate with some of the least democratic governments. It would have suf ced for the mayor to say: `I like the team of incumbents. We work well together.' However, to hold an event at which all but one of the incumbents was present makes me extremely suspicious. Richard M. Landau, Oakville The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to: The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 5040 Mainway, Burlington ON L7L 7G5 or via e-mail to; ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter.