Feedback from Candidates
We recieved the email below from a candidate who objected to us sharing COST Opinions. Since he copied his question to all of the candidates we thought it appropriate that we share our response for all voters to read.
The Email
Jim,
First and foremost, I'm happy to answer questions as I go through my campaign, as it offers transparency.
That said, I have a couple questions for you.
- Please send all the candidates a full list of the members of (Cost)
- Is it possible to just ask a question without the opinion of COST?
I don't think it's helpful for anyone to read answers that are put together with the opinion of COST in mind.
Respectfully
Our Response
Hello,
Thank you for raising your concerns. Since you copied all
of the candidates, I think it is important that we respond openly so
everyone understands who COST is, what we stand for, and why we are asking
these questions.
First, regarding our membership, COST will not be
releasing a list of individual members. COST is a non-partisan citizen
organization, and our members should not be subjected to political
attention simply because they have chosen to participate in an
organization advocating for better municipal government. We are, however,
completely transparent about our organization, our history, our objectives
and our Vision Statement, all of which are publicly available.
Second, you asked whether it is possible to simply ask a question without
including COST's opinion.
The answer is yes—but that is not what we
have chosen to do.
We believe voters are better served when both
the question and the reason for asking it are transparent. We have never
suggested that candidates should give answers that conform to COST's
views. In fact, we want candidates to tell voters what they think. Our
questions are intended to give candidates an opportunity to explain their
positions, priorities and proposed solutions.
At the same time,
COST has a responsibility to be equally transparent about our own
position. We would hardly be transparent if we asked candidates to respond
to issues while concealing the concerns and principles that led us to ask
the questions in the first place.
You served on Council and may
have a different assessment of the direction Owen Sound has taken over the
years. We respect your right to that opinion. We simply don't share it.
Our position is clearly stated in our Vision Statement: we believe
Owen Sound has been on the wrong path for too long and that significant
change is required if the city is to become more affordable, accountable,
vibrant and prosperous. We also believe that achieving meaningful change
requires a Council that can put personal differences aside, work
collaboratively and develop practical solutions in the best interests of
the community.
That is the purpose of our candidate questions.
We are not looking for candidates who agree with COST on every issue
or who will simply endorse our solutions. We are looking for candidates
who recognize the need for change, have ideas of their own, are prepared
to challenge the status quo, and are willing to work constructively with
their colleagues to achieve results.
Ultimately, the purpose of
this exercise is to give Owen Sound voters more information upon which to
make their decisions. Candidates will undoubtedly have different opinions
and different approaches—and that is exactly what we want voters to see.
COST will evaluate those responses against the principles outlined in
our Vision Statement. Candidates and voters are, of course, free to agree
or disagree with our assessment.
There is also an important
distinction between supporting COST's objectives and being controlled by
COST. If we ultimately endorse a candidate, that candidate will owe
absolutely nothing to COST. They will owe their allegiance to the
residents of Owen Sound who elected them.
COST has no candidate to
advance, no business interest to protect, no political organization
directing us, no financial interest in the outcome and no future political
influence to gain. If candidates we support are elected, they do not
become representatives of COST. If none of them are elected, our purpose
does not change.
We are simply Owen Sound taxpayers who believe our
city can and must do better.
We have no more to gain personally
from a stronger, more affordable, prosperous and accountable Owen Sound
than any other resident of this community. Our only objective is to
encourage better municipal government and a better future for the city we
all share.
We appreciate your willingness to answer the questions
and your decision to raise these concerns. We hope this response also
reassures the other candidates copied on your email that COST is not
asking anyone to adopt our opinions. We are asking candidates to tell
voters what they believe, what they would do differently, and how they
would help move Owen Sound forward.
Regards,
Jim Hutton
Concerned Owen Sound Taxpayers (COST)