October 6 was supposed to be OneBowen's candidate selection meeting. But due to a lack of candidates, the electoral organization took the opportunity to announce a new direction.
"We won't be running as a slate but that doesn't mean that we are abandoning our goals," says Colleen O'Neil, a member of OneBowen's executive team.
The idea was that voters could determine which candidates were aligned with the organization's principles on election day. That's not going to happen. The main change now is that OneBowen won't be listed next to a candidate's name on the ballot.
"When we started this process, it felt idealistic but also doable. We had countless people approach us on the ferry, at the golf course and in the cove. They all encouraged us," O'Neil says. "I don't believe that it was the OneBowen idea that got in the way. I believe that running for politics on Bowen is a daunting prospect for most people."
O'Neil says that when she approached people to suggest they run for council, 80 per cent of the time she received the same answer: no.
"I couldn't believe how difficult it was to find a candidate," O'Neil says. But she is not discouraged. "I feel it's important to say that we are on track with our principles and action plan. We'll endorse candidates that are aligned with this and help them campaign."
Some candidates have already approached OneBowen. And O'Neil says that they are happy to lend a hand, as long as the membership agrees.
Gordon Ganong, OneBowen's chair, said, "We are a democratic organization so we have to take this to our members and get them to vote on it."
O'Neil adds, "We vet the candidates first. We have to make sure they have read our documents and agree with our principles. And we have to make sure they are electable candidates."
Paul Tennant is OneBowen's treasurer. He says, "We have to look at more than just the values, we have to look at past performance and how consistent they have been. We won't just accept any Johnny- or Jenny-come-lately."
Ganong adds that potential conflicts of interests will also be taken into consideration. In a small community like Bowen Island, Tennant says, it isn't hard to find out what kind of standing people have. O'Neil says, "In the end, we'll get the membership to make the call. They'll vote on who we will endorse. We will certainly be involved in the political process regardless of who is elected."
OneBowen's aspiration is to reform the way government works, and to change the tenor of conversation around civic affairs. "We'll assist councillors who are interested in advancing our principles to ensure good governance on Bowen Island," O'Neil says. "We won't rest after election."
Although the organization has received criticism about the slate idea, O'Neil says that the 100-day challenge and the five-point plan have met with approval. Ganong says, "Our programs and policies have been highly accepted. I have spoken with many candidates and they said they liked it."
Tennant says that with independent candidates, there is no effective way for voters to assess how people have performed. "We'll hold the candidates accountable to what they have promised," O'Neil adds. "Our entire plan revolves around keeping council on track. If they get elected, we stay with them for three years. We'll help with voluntary advisory groups to make the work easier."
OneBowen's list of candidates is expected to grow when they approach some of those running for council and mayor. Ganong said, "Even though we won't be on the ballot, we will publicly endorse candidates. We'll support them. We plan to support the whole council that gets elected."
O'Neil added, "It won't be a slate but a slate idea."
