Not for the first time, someone said to me yesterday, "I only just learned that we don't have to vote for seven trustees. We can vote for any number up to seven."

This is one of those things that I just assumed everyone knew--that when a ballot says "Seven to be elected", it doesn't mean that you have to vote for seven. You can vote for any number that you like (not exceeding seven, of course, or you disqualify your ballot).
 
As anyone who has been following my posts or Facebook page knows, I am running for the school board again (10th time!!), and am strongly supporting three other candidates: incumbent Preet Rai, and new candidates Freddy Latham and Stan Petersen. My recommendation is that you vote only for these four (unless, of course, you have good reasons to support other candidates as well).

Why less than seven? Well, clearly it strengthens those four votes. You are not giving votes to the competitors. We four go up the chart against the others. Some people call this strategic voting.

I am not so arrogant as to think that there are only four candidates who have something to offer. I am simply supporting the people I believe are the strongest choices. The great thing about elections is that we have the inestimable privilege of voting for whom we please. Stalin once said, “Those who cast the votes decide nothing. Those who count the votes decide everything" (I owe this quote to Dr. John Redekop). That's not our problem in Canada, for which I truly thank God.

So vote for whomever you please. I support P3. Vote NO if that is your conviction. I love Bill MacGregor and John Smith for city council. Perhaps you don't. I am promoting the four of us for the board of education. Vote for others if that is your preference.

But for goodness' sake, please vote.

Thank you.