I voted

so I guess I don't have to put in my usual political caveat because of so many variables as candidates go, save to say I really don't care. 

the deadline for the local council elections was on Friday and I actually got my vote in early. Without naming those I voted for on a local and state level in recent times, I actually voted for the two people I met on a regular basis without seeking them out. All the other ones I wouldn't have the slightest idea who they are.

I do like to have a fair overview of who is campaigning but here is the dilemma; for the local election we have 18 candidates. Putting the first one is easy by virtue of the message they put across and then researching the candidates the ones they put two to eight on their campaign flyer. Then there are the rest. Especially in this electorate - who to put last. The dregs. 

maybe by virtue of the dross they are peddling you just know they are in the pocket of property developers. Then there are the ones who have some obscure platform that they don't distribute flyers and their web presence is so obscure that you really have no idea of what it actually is the are standing for. As far as the list goes, I only made it to candidate fourteen and I gave up - just exhausting.

in my sons electorate they only had seven candidates and one was the same age of my eldest- twenty. A friend of my son went to secondary school with him and was universally and intensely hated for the entire six year period by students and teachers alike. So at least that narrowed down the field the six. What a great service that candidate provided for extending that luxury. 

I finally got a call back from one of the candidates in our election from the number I got in a flyer in the mail. This call would have to have been one of the most, how can I put it? .... depressing calls I have ever received in my life. Even at hello, her whole voice screamed I don't want to talk to you. Or anyone, for that matter. All I wanted to know was the actual date of the election because it didn't appear on the flyer. Then, with a magical blend of disinterest and depression, she replied - 

"The actual election is on October 23rd. Mail in balloting begins on the 5th. You'll be getting a ballot in the mail

then - I swear. She let out a sigh. Conveying please, let this be over. I thought that whilst this beacon of light was here, I might as well ask about an issue I was concerned with. Because of the new Moreland station, they destroyed the Gandolfo Gardens. I wish that they would try to restore it to some semblance of it's former glory.

"That would be a State issue"

well, you got my vote - not. I made the very special effort of putting her last.