It was pleasing to note that the two successful incumbents in the Vancouver City Council race, Larry Smith and Bart Hansen, both took the high road as regards negative campaigning. Neither voiced negative comments about his opponent, focusing instead on the city’s needs and their own past, present and future efforts to address those needs.
Less than pleasing were the comments, reported in the Nov. 9 story “Vancouver City Council: Hansen, Smith victorious, Turlay leads in city races,” made on election night by Smith’s opponent, Cory Barnes. Barnes commented, “I can stand up and I can challenge a policymaker … and put him on trial, and I have a right to do that,” thus implying some sort of indictable offense committed by Smith, a highly respected public servant who has accomplished so much for Vancouver, both as a city employee and as a city councilor.
Barnes indicated his intent to continue to stay politically involved, encouraging other young people to also get involved. We wish him well in that regard but hope that he matures in his motivation and methodology. He should realize that comments such as this, combined with his negative campaign techniques, don’t sit well with voters.
Bob and Marie Day
Vancouver
