PAGE 4, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8. 1980, WIIITBY FREE PRESS whitby Voice of the County Town Michael lan Burgess, Publisher- Managing Editor The only Whitby newspaper independently owned and operated by Whitby residents for whitby residents. Puhlished every Wednesda% andt Ih<tography me. P'hon e 66)4-611Il PIe F'rePress Building. 1:11 t1roek Street North. P.(>.Box *206. Whitby, Ont. Michael J. KneII Communlty Editor Marjorie A. Burgess Production Manager Karen Thompson Advertising Manager Mailing Permit No, 460 Member of the Whltby Chamber of Commerce With four weeks until polling day, we'd like to know if anyone will run The Free Press has some rather distressing news for the resident and taxpayer, and therefore voter, of the Town of Whitby. It appears as though there will be no election for the seven municipal offices to be filled this year. With only four weeks and five days until polling day and 12 days left until nominations close, there is only a small f ield of candidates. To date, all four local councillors are seeking re- elction to their uncontested seats, Gerry Emm and Tom Edwards are the only people seeking election to Durham Regional Council and it appears as though Bobby Attersley may be unopposed in his first try for the Mayor's chair. There are only two candidates, to date, for Whit- by's two seats on the Durham Board of Education and only Charles Roche has said that he will seek re-election to the Durham Region Roman Catholic Separate School Board. And only one person, Gerry Cox, has announced any intention to run for the Whitby Hydro-Electric Commission. That means that there are at least three vacan- cies for the HEC as well as one for the separate school board and the office of separate school representative to the Durham Board of Education. This means that all of these positions coulb be filled by acclamation. And that would be a sorry situation, indeed. If that was the case, it would indeed show apathy or complacenecy on the part of many "civic- minded" Whitby citizens. Perhaps some of these potential candidates are sc afraid of losing that they will not even throw their hat in the ring. That, too, is a sorry situation. The purpose of elections is to give the voter a choice, a choice of political style, of substance, of direction. In order to be an informed voter and, therefore, citizen, alternatives must be given so that a just and reasonable decision on who shall lead the community can be made. We are not criticizing the past performance of any of the incumbents or candidates that have an- nounced that they intend to seek a mandate from the voter. They have done their job and are now seeking the support of the voter to carry on that job. However, the voter, it appears, will not have any cholce in this election. No choice because there are no candidates. it is no disgrace to run in an election and lose. Anyone who seeks public office is doing his duty as a citizen by offering himself as an alternative to the policies of his opponent and giving his neigh- bor a choice. That choice is what the democratic society is ail about.'Freedom of choice is the basic idea behind ei'ections and if no one offers himself (or herself) for election, that freedom of choice is gone. Another thing, If one notices who has declared themselves for election, one would discover that there is not a woman amongst them. A woman candidate would bring a new and needed focus on community affairs. Previous women councillors have been of invaluable service to the community. Since there are so few candidates in this elec- tion, one wonders if there are enough people living in this community that are concerned enough about it to do something for it. The incumbents for office, quite frankly, need the competition, If for no other reason than to keep their wits about them. The people of the Town of Whitby need a choice in an election. Civic-minded citizens should invest a little of their time and money in doing something for their community. Even if they are not successful in their bid for election, they will have performed a great service to their neighbours and to their community as a whole. The Free Press would like to prod along any would-be candidate into taking the first step and making a committment to serve the voter by giving him an alternative to consider November 10 elec- tion Tlis publication would also like to remind any candidate or would-be candidate, that except under exceptional circumstances the Whitby Free Press will not endorse anyone for office.