Editor:
When we heard, as reported in the Optimist on Nov. 7, that Delta REAL candidates had issued a media release announcing their boycott of the all-candidates meetings hosted by the Delta Teachers' Association and CUPE 1091, we were surprised and astonished.
Previously, all 16 candidates, including the four REAL candidates, had responded to our survey and questionnaire and all, except incumbent board of education chairperson Laura Dixon, had indicated they wished to be considered by the DTA for endorsement. (All candidate responses can be read on our DTA website.)
The DTA public education advocacy committee met, deliberated and recommended the names of five candidates for endorsement to the executive. Five candidates - newcomers Rhiannon Bennett, Bruce Reid and Nic Slater, second-time candidate Brad Sherwin and incumbent Val Windsor - were finally endorsed at the regular meeting of the DTA executive committee on Oct. 21.
While it's true that no REAL candidates were endorsed by the DTA, we reject as false the claim by REAL that DTA all-candidates meetings are nothing more than a forum to showcase DTA-endorsed candidates.
At the two all-candidates meetings we've organized, on Nov. 6 at Genesis Theatre in Ladner and Nov. 10 at Seaquam Secondary in North Delta, 11 of the 16 declared trustee hopefuls attended. All were warmly welcomed and all were treated with equanimity and respect.
In Ladner, 11 candidates had the opportunity to speak directly to voters and to respond to questions; at Seaquam, all candidates, except for the so-called REAL candidates, attended.
Had Dale Saip and Fabian Milat attended our meeting, they, too, would have had every opportunity to speak and to hear and respond to questions and to engage with other candidates and the public. More importantly perhaps, by attending the various all-candidates meetings and events, both gentlemen would have demonstrated their commitment to the community and citizens of Delta.
But DTA- and CUPE-sponsored all-candidates meetings are not the only ones that Saip and Milat have not attended. They also failed to attend the all-candidates meeting sponsored by the Delta District Parent Advisory Council on Nov. 5 and neither participated in the Optimist's Twitter trustee forum held last week.
It's clear that both Saip and Milat have done a consistently good job of avoiding not only DTA all candidates meetings, but many other meetings as well. So we question whether REAL candidates' avoidance of our of DTA all-candidates meetings is actually a boycott, or just an attempt to avoid any meeting where real voters might questions them on their past records and future plans.
The Delta Teachers' Association organizes and promotes all-candidates' meetings in the public interest. When candidates attend these meetings we see this as an important demonstration of their actual commitment to the people of Delta, a potent demonstration of civic virtue.
And that is why we encourage candidates to attend as many of these educational events as possible.
In the same way, prospective voters who attend all-candidates meetings are also demonstrating their commitment to good local governance. The simple act of showing up to public meetings to hear and question candidates running for election - or in the case of incumbents Saip and Milat, re-election - is also a simple but clear act of civic virtue.
Irrespective of who organizes these events, all-candidates meetings make it possible for candidates and voters to meet face to face. This is a good thing.
Ultimately, given the absence of REAL candidates, including Milat and Saip, from DTA sponsored and other all-candidates meetings, we're wondering whether these long-time incumbents should be re-elected, or should new candidates with fresh ideas and perspectives be given a chance?
Who among the 16 candidates running is more worthy of citizens' support? The ones who avoid attendance at public meetings, or the ones who actually show up?
The voters who vote on Nov. 15 will ultimately be the ones who decide.
Paul Steer
President
Delta Teachers' Association
