It seems that there is a concerted campaign among those who wish the spendthrift status quo in this community to continue and to keep St. Albert as the most highly taxed city in the province. I see the collusion in the efforts to categorize those who take an opposing viewpoint as disgruntled ne'er do wells or troublemakers. I also see it in the repeated concerted efforts to drag down hard-working councillors who have the temerity to do more than rubber stamp administration proposals. The latter point is evidenced in the editorials, articles and letters to the editor that are published in our supposedly neutral newspaper. Not a chance is missed to castigate those councillors who may have used the occasional brash word on a few isolated occasions. In most cases those councillors work doubly hard just to pry relevant information from administration. They independently collect their facts, put together and analyze data and make argument just to show that other approaches to an issue have value and are worth consideration. They get no assistance to do this. And then, at city council, they get faced with block voting against their proposals no matter how valid and sensible. No wonder at times some incautious language is used. Contrast this with those supporting the status quo, which mostly means an automatic approval of administration's latest position. When all you have to do is smile and say yes, and vote in favour, you are very seldom tested beyond your limits, and highly unlikely to say or do anything controversial. To me, the fact of the minor verbal mistakes, speaks to just how hard Cam MacKay and Sheena Hughes have worked for the everyday citizen in this city, in the face of huge odds. They have tackled tough issues including establishing an internal auditor who will help ascertain the effectiveness and efficiency of current city programs, processes and procedures and report to council. They have proposed alternative approaches to issues such as the new branch library. They have honoured and argued for the petition presented by almost 6,700 votes in St. Albert asking for a meaningful vote on the proposed branch library. They have supported returning annual surpluses to the taxpayer versus being shunted to various funds. I could go on, but would need a book to do so. I am proud to say I support Mr Cam MacKay and Ms Hughes in their candidacy for mayor and councillor respectively. Lynda Flannery, St. Albert
