Signs set up at Candidates at the Park, an outdoor event where the public can meet local candidates running in the municipal election (file photo/CHATNewsToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Candidates adjusting how they campaign amid new restrictions

Sep 17, 2021 | 5:55 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB- With new public health measures in place, candidates in the municipal election have had to pivot to ensure that their messaging gets out to voters.

” There’s definitely less personal touch, and I really thrive on that, the face to face, and listening to their concerns and what they see valuable,” said council candidate Cassi Hider.

A meet and greet with candidates at Station Coffee House, quickly went virtual after restrictions were announced on Wednesday.

Council candidate Brian Webster also planned to connect with voters at a local restaurant next week. But that has since been canceled and Webster will instead meet people at local parks.

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“Just spend an hour or two there, and make it as convenient as you can for the voters,” he said of

Councillor Phil Turnbull who is vying for re-election says he has noticed the difference in campaigning this time around.

” With COVID-19, they don’t want you going door to door knocking. Some people are okay with it. It depends if you are vaccinated or not,” Turnbull said.

Lorraine Dalla- longa who is organizing an all-candidates forum was worried about how the restrictions would impact the event.

” Well, I thought, ‘ oh my god, what are we going to do? But you know what when there is a will there is a way. So I got in touch with the Stampede Board and they have allowed us to use the auditorium. Their auditorium seats 600 people, so even with the restrictions and a third of the people allowed we can still have 200 people.”

The event is planned for Sept. 23, at 6 p.m. Everyone who attends is required to show their proof of vaccination or produce a negative COVID-19 test at the door.

” There is going to be a gentleman that monitors where everybody sits, checking vaccines, or COVID-19 negative tests. There is going to be sign-in. There is going to be a mediator. It is going to be very well organized, and we are looking forward to it,” Dalla-Longa said.

Dalla -longa is also hoping to live-stream the event so that those who don’t feel comfortable attending in person can still hear from the candidates.

“I think it will be rewarding for everybody. There are so many candidates this time running so I think you really have to listen to what everybody has to say,” she said.

But With limited face-to-face interaction throughout the campaign period. Many Candidates like Ramona Robbins have been relying on an online presence on Social Media, to communicate.

” There’s social media platforms that a lot of people use, and groups that have been created by people other than myself, and I have a website that is updated, and then anytime someone on social media asks me a question I make sure to put the answer to that question on my website as well.” recently announced council candidate Ramona Robins said.

But with so many candidates running, comes the issue of navigating all the information.

“It can be very difficult to slog through 32 candidates and find all the platforms, and biographies and stuff so I completely understand people feeling overwhelmed” candidate Alison Van Dyke said.

Political Science professor Jim Groom says campaigning during a pandemic will be a challenge, and just who gets in may come down to name recognition.

” There are some that are currently on council that may get elected, may get recognized for the name both positively and negatively, because the incumbent carries a certain amount of baggage, and so they may end up with a certain number or votes or lack of votes in some cases, and the bulk in the middle 32 candidates it’s going to be overwhelming,” Groom said.

Groom also believes there are pros and cons with candidates engaging with prospective voters on social media.

” It seems like a double edge sword because you can get a lot of exposure, but you can also get somebody on there that decides, they want to rant, and they may want to rant, and take up a lot of your space and not even have the right topics or selecting you as the victim almost, and all of a sudden people are misunderstanding what your message is,” Groom said.

But while it may be overwhelming for voters to find information on all the candidates this election, local candidates are also pleading with voters to get to know them, before the ballot is cast.

“It’s a little bit of a hunt and peck to find information, but I keep encouraging people to reach out if you have questions. Even a telephone call is nice rather than texting or messaging because sometimes people’s messaging gets construed, so it is nice to have that conversation over the phone,” Hider said.