So I am running for District of Invermere council.
And suddenly I am squarely on the other side of the reporter’s notepad… or in this day and age, email address.
While I knew running for any sort of public office, whether I am elected or not, would involve this little switcheroo, I didn’t realize how strange it was going to feel, nor how unrelentingly rigid my standards for our local media were going to be.
I have to admit, I am upholding them to the standards once held by the editorial staff at The Valley Echo, back in the days of Cobb, Stevens and Fernandez. Perhaps I am just arrogant, but I am of the opinion that the three of us in particular made one hell of a trio, a journalistic gaggle who produced a paper worth reading each and every week, without compromising our integrity or losing our humanity.
Ah, for the good old days, of low pay, long hours, editorial “meetings” and J. Jonah Cobb bellowing at one of us at the top of his lungs.
Oh, wait…
While I do recall the old days at the paper fondly, it would never have allowed me to run for office of any kind. What is did give me was the opportunity to understand what makes this valley tick, and see, via covering council meetings, community forums and doing hours of research and uncounted interviews, what it takes to make it all happen.
Still, should I be successful in my campaign and become Councillor Stevens, there will be a lot to take in and learn. Over and above procedure and policy, and as certain of you reading this will agree, my heart might be better kept within my chest rather than on my sleeve, and the old chestnut think before you speak will become more of a mantra.
And as I suppose I should be actually campaigning a little… I do promise to listen. You can reach me via email at stephanieannstevens@gmail.com, or stop me on the street for a chat.
Catch you on the flip side folks… or better yet, at the polling station.
