Doreen A Suddens On the afternoon of Saturday 13 October 2007 we will know who has been elected our new mayors, councillors, and community board members. If the LGBT community wants to celebrate the election of gay and lesbian (and gay friendly) candidates in Auckland, Kapiti and Christchurch we need to get our voting papers into the postbox right now - it is our last chance. The slow return of ballot papers to returning offices at present is cause for alarm for our community, and for other progressive forces, as a low turnout usually favours the conservative sectors of society. Conservatives know the importance of voting in like-minded people to themselves as it reinforces their power bases. (The name John Banks springs to mind). It is the less powerful citizens who feel they do not have any say in political decisions and cannot influence outcomes, and comment ‘why bother to vote?' But by thinking like that we are only handing more power to our cities agenda setters. (The name John Banks springs to mind again). Over the last few weeks I have been appearing on busy street corners holding signs and handing out leaflets for my partner Lindsey Rea who is standing for a Council position in Auckland's Western Bays ward, and I have been appalled by the apathy displayed by many people over voting in these local government elections. Many have still not voted, or do not intend to vote, and many of these people are young, the very people who (like us) need a safe and supportive environment. I have heard complaints about the forms being too hard, when all you have to do is put in a few ticks, or go 1, 2, 3, for the hospital board. The other grizzle is that they do not know who to vote for - well there has been enough information around about most candidates for the last few weeks if a little energy had been used to read the newspapers, or go to meetings. Also, most of the candidates published their phone numbers so that they could be rung up and questioned by the really keen. If we in the LGBT community want progressive and diverse towns and cities where all citizens are given equal shares, and not just goodies for the conservatives, we need to fill in our forms right now and go and post them right now, or at the very latest tomorrow (Thursday). In some places ballot papers can be deposited at libraries on election day, between the 10am and 12noon, for really late voters, but either way time is running out. Editor's note: Doreen Agassiz-Suddens is the partner of Auckland City Council candidate Lindsey Rea and a long-standing GayNZ.com political observer. Podcast interviews with Auckland candidates Lindsay Rea and Bruce Kilmister are available to listen to on the links below. Doreen Agassiz-Suddens - 10th October 2007
Credit: Doreen Agassiz-Suddens
First published: Wednesday, 10th October 2007 - 4:10pm