Saying It and Doing It Are Two Different Things
Election campaigns are full of promises.
Fiscal responsibility. Accountability. Respect for taxpayers. Better government. Leadership.
Those are easy things to say. What matters to me is what candidates actually do, especially when nobody is forcing them to do it. Todays Focus: Election Signs and Placements
That is why I have been disappointed by what I am seeing across Bradford during the 2026 municipal election. Too many candidates, including some who have run before and some who currently serve on Council, appear to be disregarding the Town’s election sign rules.
This isn’t about an innocent mistake or someone misunderstanding a complicated regulation. The Town has communicated with candidates multiple times, providing written direction and even an infographic explaining the requirements.
At some point, following the rules becomes a choice.
And there is a bigger issue here that I think deserves attention.
Many candidates are campaigning on fiscal responsibility and telling residents they will protect taxpayer dollars.
But every unnecessary complaint, investigation, site visit and enforcement action takes staff time and municipal resources.
By knowingly ignoring rules and creating a continuous pipeline of complaints for By-law Enforcement to deal with, candidates can be contributing to municipal costs before they are even elected.
That doesn’t demonstrate fiscal responsibility. It demonstrates the opposite.
And for those of us already serving on Council, I believe the standard should be even higher. We approve municipal policies, budgets and enforcement resources. We cannot demand that residents and businesses respect municipal rules while treating those same rules as optional when they become inconvenient for us.
This isn’t really about signs. It’s about leadership.
• If you say you believe in fiscal responsibility, demonstrate it.
• If you say you believe in accountability, hold yourself accountable.
• If you say you respect taxpayers, don’t unnecessarily consume the resources they pay for. And if you want residents to trust you with the responsibility of public office, show them how you conduct yourself while you’re trying to earn it.
Campaign promises tell you what someone says they will do.
Their actions during a campaign can tell you a lot about how they will actually lead.
For me, the standard is simple:
Say what you mean. Follow the rules. Respect the taxpayer. And lead by example.
Because saying it and doing it aren’t always the same thing.
Here is the PDF that was sent to candidates TWICE!
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