Skip to content

Editorial: Campaign now a sprint toward next week’s vote

Mayoral debate is tonight, Oct. 9, at Vancouver Island Conference Centre
13882519_web1_181009-NBU-editorial-election_1
City of Nanaimo mayoral candidates Ray Farmere, left, Don Hubbard and Leonard Krog have been invited to a debate tonight, Oct. 9, at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. Photo submitted and Black Press file photos

We’re now at that point where we can say that the election is next week.

With just over a week and a half before election day, voter information events are happening nearly every day. There’s an all-candidates’ fair and a mayoral candidates’ debate tonight, Oct. 9, at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre, then an all-candidates’ meeting Oct. 15 at the same venue.

For voters who want to be as well-informed as they can be, these final opportunities for all-candidates access shape up as pretty important. Because of the sheer number of candidates vying for Nanaimo city council – the ballot includes 40 council candidates and three mayoral candidates – last week’s all-candidates’ meetings didn’t allow for back-and-forth debate. The Nanaimo South End Community Association meeting had 35 candidates, with each getting the microphone for four minutes total, while the United Way Central and Northern Vancouver Island all-candidates’ meeting the next night allowed each of the 26 participants just one minute at the podium.

Inside today’s News Bulletin, you’ll find a special pullout section with capsule information about each of the candidates running in the City of Nanaimo, District of Lantzville, Nanaimo Ladysmith school district and the Regional District of Nanaimo. We ran into the same challenge as debate organizers – how to fit everyone in? – but hopefully we were able to allot just enough space to each candidate so as to help provide some delineation around their various platforms.

Search our website for expanded questionnaires, more than 45 candidate interviews and expanded all-candidates’ meeting coverage (see links below). And consider attending tonight’s event – the fair starts at 6 p.m., the debate at 8 p.m.

We think that the time you spend thoughtfully choosing our next city council will be time well spent.

Upcoming voter information events:

Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce/Our Nanaimo all-candidates’ fair, Oct. 9, 6-7:45 p.m., Vancouver Island Conference Centre.

Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce/Our Nanaimo mayoral candidates’ debate, Oct. 9, 8-9 p.m., Vancouver Island Conference Centre.

Hospital-area town hall with four Nanaimo city council candidates planned for Wednesday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m. at Windward Pub. With Sheryl Armstrong, Guy Beaulieu, Tyler Brown, Erin Hemmens.

District of Lantzville all-candidates’ meeting, Thursday, Oct. 11, 6-9 p.m., Costin Hall.

Nanaimo council candidates’ meet and greet with eight candidates Thursday, Oct. 11, 7-9 p.m. at Departure Bay Kin Hut. With Tyler Brown, Zeni Maartman, Don Bonner, Erin Hemmens, Wendy Pratt, Ben Geselbracht, Jim Turley, Alexis Petersen.

District of Lantzville all-candidates’ meeting, Sunday, Oct. 14, 3-5 p.m., Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 257.

Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce/Our Nanaimo council candidates’ forum, Oct. 15, 6-9 p.m., Vancouver Island Conference Centre.

RELATED: Candidates ponder affordable housing and homelessness

RELATED: Candidates talk waterfront planning, supportive housing at south-end debate

RELATED: Five-candidates’ meeting held in north Nanaimo