Airdrie Politics

It took a while, but it’s finally happened:  spotted my first Linda Bruce campaign sign.

Funny thing is, though, its says “Re-elect” Linda Bruce.

As most people know — at least most of the few who pay attention to municipal politics in Airdrie — Linda Bruce was NOT elected in 2007 at all.

She was acclaimed.

This democratic deficit took place as most Airdronians basked in the twilight of the economic boom — a climate very forgiving to incumbent politicians, particularly ones as addicted to spending other people’s money as our beloved madam mayor is.

Word is, too, that 2007 was not Linda Bruce’s only electoral freebie.

In 2004, sources tell me, Bruce’s only competition was an avowed capital-c Communist (note to longtime sufferers of Airdrie Politics: if anybody knows the name of LB’s valiant opponent in ’04, please post in comments! — Ed.,) — which in Wildrose country means no competition at all.

Indeed, about the same number of voters turned out for that epic contest as did in ’07, the year Linda Bruce and company anesthetized democracy in our fair city.

Which was just fine by our fearless Mayor Bruce.  After being acclaimed, she told the Echo that “for me not to be under that stress is a big win for me personally.”  Sorry if elections are inconvenient, Madame Mayor.

But back to Her Worship’s signage.

While I am not one for red tape, I wonder whether Linda Bruce’s “re-elect” wording on her signs runs afoul of any truth-in-advertising clauses of our Elections Act?

Shouldn’t they read “elect” or, in the interest of reducing our Mayor’s stress levels, “re-acclaim”?

Just askin’.

JC