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So now that we're into full election fever ...

What? Haven't noticed an election has been called?

Haven't seen too many lawn signs, media ads, skywriters or baby-kissing politicians at your doorstep?

Well, while a few wannabe elected reps for school board and city council have been pounding the pavement for weeks now -- mayoral hopeful Shari Decter Hirst perhaps the most -- many average folks would be hard-pressed to strike up even a 10-minute coffee-shop conversation about the fall tilt.

So this week, I'll give you some grounds to grind away at.

WHERE'S THE MAYOR?

While incumbent Mayor Dave Burgess could never be accused of being a flashy fellow, his campaign has been in the shadows, at best.

While Hizzoner has been attending all the usual official functions -- such as a council meeting, cutting the ribbon at the new fire hall and chowing down at a Brandon Chamber of Commerce luncheon -- he has also been spotted at places where he'll find few votes.

Such as at CFB Shilo on Wednesday where 30 local politicians and business people embedded with the 1st Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery B- and C-Battery as they participated in an annual fall training exercise.

As it was arranged in partnership with Brandon Salutes -- a local organization that aims to strengthen the military and civilian community ties -- I can understand why Burgess would be invited.

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But at the same time, his chief opponent was getting media attention at yet another campaign announcement in Brandon.

I learned early on in politics that during a campaign, your time is nothing but wasted unless all the people around you at any given event could vote for you or influence someone who could.

But at any event, Mayor Dave's military mission provided a fun pic for my column this week. Another rule in politics is to never wear a funny hat -- even if it's a helmet.

As for his official re-election kickoff, Burgess initially told the Sun he didn't plan to campaign until after the Labour Day long weekend, he has since pushed back that start date until after next Tuesday, which is the deadline for mayoral, council and school trustee candidates to file their nomination papers.

Hey, Dave, I just want to see what you've got so I can keep you honest -- as I plan to do with all the candidates.

HERE'S AN EXAMPLE

In laying down another of her campaign platform planks on making Brandon an age-friendly city, Decter Hirst suggested the creation of a comprehensive daycare registry that would provide an entire picture for families searching for highly coveted child-care spots.

Problem is, in April, the Jimmy Choo province announced the phase-in of Canada's first provincewide, online wait list to be launched in the Brandon area to provide an accurate account of families seeking spaces and a straightforward registration process.

The province's list would be an actual wait-list for licensed spots. Decter Hirst wants a resource list -- at the civic level -- for licensed and unlicensed spots.

Sounds like a tantrum in the making for a few bureaucrats.

Better break out the soothers.

AND SOME MORE GOSSIP

So the very next day after Decter Replica Watches
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