No excuse for candidates not to have video profile

With this edition of The Kings County Advertiser comes the last in the series of candidate profiles for the 2008 municipal election.

As readers are aware, candidates for Kentville town council and Kings County council had the opportunity to be featured in video profiles on NovaNewsNow.com. Still photos of the candidates appeared in the paper, along with some facts about the candidates. Readers were directed to the website to watch the profiles.

Our reporter/photographer Kirk Starratt, who initiated the video profiles, said it’s unfortunate that not all candidates capitalized on the opportunity because there was ample time. The video concept was given the green light by management in May and the concept was made public through presentations to Kentville and Kings County councils in June. The concept was outlined in an editorial in The Kings County Advertiser in June and it was clearly articulated that the onus was on candidates to book a time for a video interview, on a first-come-first-served basis, as time permitted.

We believe ample time was given to candidates and it was made abundantly clear it was their responsibility to book a time. Any allegation of unfair treatment now that we’re to the moment would be specious.

There is no excuse not to have engaged this important tool of democracy. We can only guess that those who weren’t profiled chose not to be.

The excuse “I didn’t know” holds no water because this would be admitting to not following the local media and not attending council sessions regularly. It would indicate that perhaps the candidate is out of touch and not fully prepared to step into the responsibility of these important local government positions.

For those candidates who chose to be profiled, we say bravo. The videos were intended to be another public service offered by Transcontinental Media and a tool in the candidates’ toolbox. Failing free television or radio coverage, what easier way to reach so many potential voters at once?

For voters who would like to review the video profiles before election day Saturday, Oct. 18, they are all available on NovaNewsNow.com, under the Kings County tab. By scrolling on the site, visitors can go back to mid-August when the first video profile, featuring current Kings County Warden and District 4 incumbent Fred Whalen, was posted.

County candidates who were profiled or scheduled for profiles before the cut-off date included Whalen and District 4 candidates Adrian Doherty and Jason Langille; District 1 incumbent Jim Taylor and candidate Richard Harvie; District 2 incumbent Janet Newton and candidate Patricia Bishop; District 3 candidate Mervin Steadman; District 8 incumbent Ted Palmer; District 10 incumbent Chris Parker and candidate Audrey Haig-Stewart; and District 12 incumbent John Fuller. District 5 incumbent Wayne Atwater and District 6 incumbent Diana Brothers were returned by acclamation and chose not to be profiled.

Kentville council candidates profiled included incumbents Eric Bolland, Bernie Cooper, Dennis Kehoe and Mark Pearl and candidates Bill Boyd, George Mutch and Leo Stacey. Mayoral incumbent Dave Corkum was profiled as well.