I got my walking papers Tuesday.
As in: papers for walking the District of West Vancouver to allow me to identify voters as I canvass them about their intentions in the October 17 election.
I filed my documents to officially run for the mayoralty, and later in the day my Inbox had the registered voters’ list of names and addresses. What that does, in conjunction with some smartphone technology, is permit candidates to identify supporters, detractors and undecideds.
As I’ve written before, the campaign is a marathon. I’ve run nine actual marathons, and this appears to be the stage for me (a candidate since May) where I get to understand if I’m going to hit the wall or have the stamina to finish strongly. I’ve met hundreds on the Seawalk, at Harmony Arts, at the Horseshoe Bay and Ambleside Markets, in the shopping villages, at British Properties events, and in my Caulfeild neighbourhood. Now the heavy-duty door-knocking starts.
There is an unmistakeable appetite for change–not cosmetic change from within, but a fresh set of eyes and ears to deal with our challenges. I’ve already emphasized the necessity for greater consultation, transparency and accountability in our governance. We need a stronger hand on public finances to protect us as municipalities take on larger challenges in the years to come.
My platform has taken shape through these many conversations, and I expect to release it in stages over the next weeks. I hope you’ll find it thorough, evidence-based, hopeful, respectful and aligned with what you believe the community’s future should be.
Thank you again to everyone who has expressed support. If you have time to organize a meet-and-greet at your household, if you want to volunteer to help us canvass, if you want to donate, your assistance would be greatly appreciated. Write me at kirk@kirklapointe.ca.
Stay tuned. Much more to come.