Running for office and subjecting oneself to the temperamental public – and media! – isn’t easy.
The fact the NDP apparently couldn’t find any local residents willing to run for it in two Abbotsford ridings testifies to that fact (among several other things).
While politicians have a bad name – one they have earned, in many cases – it’s also important to recognize that these are men and women who generally want to make the world a better place.
Sure they can have vastly different ideas for how to do so, but they deserve applause for doing something more than posting Facebook comments or complaining to their friends about the state of the province.
Over the past week, we’ve sat down with 10 of the candidates who accepted our invitation to be interviewed.
You’ll be able to see the videos, posted raw with no editing, on our website soon. (Go to abbynews.com/tag/candidate-videos)
We tried to ask them hard questions, although, politicians being politicians, it was sometimes hard to get a straight answer. While the incumbents and a couple of challengers were polished, others were nervous and not altogether comfortable. It’s those people who deserve the loudest applause.
Our democracy needs people who are willing to stand up for their beliefs when doing so is uncomfortable and maybe even scary. So hats off to them and their willingness to engage with issues that matter to Abbotsford residents.