Get Concerned Stratford has made the decision to hold an all-candidates meeting for the 2026 municipal election, and we are counting on you to help us write the discussion questions.
This is a time when things are changing frighteningly fast, not only in our environmental situation, but in the political landscape itself. We need clarity. There’s never enough time at all-candidate meetings to discuss everything, but we hope to have a number of the most important questions on democracy and the environment clearly set out early in the year. We welcome your input.
Once a tentative list of questions has been arrived at, a series of public workshop meetings will help us discuss, research and refine the questions, then list them in order of priority for inclusion in the all-candidates meeting.
The final questions will be sent in a city-wide mailing which will also include nonpartisan election information, and we’ll make sure that all candidates have a copy of the questions well in advance of the meeting.
We think that good preparation will get us a better result in our municipal elections. Candidates should be ready to answer, and voters will have a deeper understanding of issues they have been able to research in advance.
It’s an ambitious project, and we won’t be able to do it without your help.
We don’t have all the answers. We’ll need help to assemble feedback from the community, consult people with professional knowledge, write backgrounders on each question, find artwork or music to help with community recognition, and make sure everyone’s voice is included.
Please let us know what you think of this plan in the comments below. It will take some organizing, and we will need donations to help us complete the work. If you would like to help out, please let us know, and if you are able to donate, please consider a gift through the Small Change Fund.
I forgot to say that I would like to help with this “great idea for questions”. Not sure what that would involve and how helpful I can be but you all are doing such a great work for Stratford.
Thanks, Nora!
We’re back at it now, and should have lots of jobs within the next week or so. We’re just getting the newsletter out now.
This is a brilliant idea! Instead of knee jerk voting based on habits or name recognition, this will “ do the homework “ for many people , including me! The fast pace of life can result in a usually conscientious person suddenly realizing the election is tomorrow!
Also appreciate the thorough and non-partisan approach! I will donate.