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Ward system essential

Well it seems as though five of the eight city councilors are more concerned about their re-election than allowing the citizens of Red Deer have fair representation.I am appalled at the recent 6-3 (including Mayor Flewwelling) vote rejecting a ward system.A ward system makes city councillors accountable to their area; councillors cannot hide and, therefore, their action (or lack thereof) will count toward or against them for their re-election prospects.

Well it seems as though five of the eight city councilors are more concerned about their re-election than allowing the citizens of Red Deer have fair representation.

I am appalled at the recent 6-3 (including Mayor Flewwelling) vote rejecting a ward system.

A ward system makes city councillors accountable to their area; councillors cannot hide and, therefore, their action (or lack thereof) will count toward or against them for their re-election prospects.

A vote against a ward system is being ignorant to the future, being blind to the fact that city is growing at an extremely fast rate. A ward system is where the city will have to go, why not do it now while a plebiscite is comparatively cheap?

The last thing I will mention is the nerve of these city councillors to use the cost as the plebiscite as an excuse. This, the day of the confirmed news release of a whopping 5.05 per cent tax increase. How a councillor can be fiscally responsible one day and fiscally reckless the next is beyond me — looks like they are trying to have their cake and eat it too.

My hats off to Chris Stephan, Buck Buchanan and Frank Wong, as such a vote could effectively be falling on one’s own sword for the furtherance of democracy.

Calvin Goulet-Jones

Red Deer