Voters tasked with major decisions

Probably the most important contests at their level in decades, the 2008 municipal election campaigns are well underway in Kings County and the battle is joined in at least one of the municipality's districts.

At the same time, incumbent mayors of the Shiretown and Wolfville -- their respective worships Dave Corkum and Bob Stead -- have declared their candidacies to keep their chains of office.

Former Kentville chief administrative officer Bill Boyd has said he will attempt to put his experience to good use in a different way -- as a town councillor.

In the municipality, Warden Fred Whalen is being challenged by newcomer Jason Langille for the District 4 council seat. Audrey Haig-Stewart has declared for District 10, currently held by Coun. Chris Parker and Patricia Bishop has declared for District 2, currently represented by Coun. Janet Newton.

More declarations are expected in the near future, well in advance of the practice in past years. The new council will elect its warden and deputy warden at its first session in November.

Elsewhere in the area, Mayor Anna Allen of Windsor will retire from the position she has held since 2000. Former councillor Paul Beazley has declared his candidacy for the office. Already, changes are on the horizon, whatever else happens in Windsor.

Given the fact that many aspects of community economic development rest with the municipal units -- what kinds of industry we want to attract or preserve, and where they should be located in our communities – it has never been more incumbent on voters to choose from among the most knowledgeable and able in that field.

For example, Kings County is ground zero in the current focus now spreading across the country of eating locally. It's also a prime residential development spot.

Local government -- the municipality -- must ensure that the development rules are both agriculture and farmer-friendly. That said, those aspects aren't necessarily mutually supportive for all in the industry.

After all, farmers have to be able to make the most of their properties or else real estate becomes an encumbrance and the owner a serf to old and potentially unprofitable ideas of what agriculture and agricultural industry is. He or she could be reduced to a park manager. Add to this mix the larger markets and international trade issues and we have one very intricate puzzle to master.

Others -- the province and the large grocery chain stores, from the 'buy local'-type signage on the fresh produce shelves -- are on stream and increasing transportation fuel costs make this more and more realistic and necessary.

However, it's how well the next council furthers the industry's centuries-old footing in the local municipality that will tell the future of this locally rooted and nationally strategic industry.

Given the fact we are one of the longest developed areas of the country, we can take the same view of what industry needs in fostering and protection to take full advantage of markets. It will all come down to the night of Oct. 18 and we will live and work with those choices for the next four years and likely beyond, depending on the decisions they make over that period.