The requests for food are constant and a phone call is usually interrupted by the cries of a small child. By Leticia Laing
THE upcoming council election in October poses unique challenges for new candidates, especially women.
This is my first foray into local government as a political candidate and, in the midst of a global pandemic, I am faced with hurdles my male counterparts are less likely to face.
Essentially, I’m in the midst of a global crisis trying to run a council campaign and parent all at the same time, irrespective of having a supportive partner.
I’m the primary carer for my three young children: two who are in primary school and one who is three. I care about their future; I care about the community they grow up in and that's part of why I'm running.
THE upcoming council election in October poses unique challenges for new candidates, especially women.
This is my first foray into local government as a political candidate and, in the midst of a global pandemic, I am faced with hurdles my male counterparts are less likely to face.
Essentially, I’m in the midst of a global crisis trying to run a council campaign and parent all at the same time, irrespective of having a supportive partner.
I’m the primary carer for my three young children: two who are in primary school and one who is three. I care about their future; I care about the community they grow up in and that's part of why I'm running.
But I also care about their existence right now which means our daily walks are longer, the attention I need to give them is extended and remote learning is … is … hard.
Despite the incredible curriculum developed by the local school, when I ask my prep aged son to sit down and do his work it’s like I’ve asked him to watch paint dry while breaking his favourite toy.
Inevitably the house is a mess, the requests for food are constant and a phone call is usually interrupted by the cries of a small child. Throw in a Zoom meeting and I am held for ransom.
I very nearly bought them a pony so I could get 10 minutes of peace; instead I got a dog.
Undoubtedly some of my experience is similar for others working from home.
In the Bass Coast Shire women make up 51.5 per cent of the population yet only two out of the nine councillors in our current council are women.
Under current COVID restrictions, incumbent councillors will be even more favoured in the election as people tend to go for the familiar when they haven’t had chances to learn about or meet new candidates.
Door knocking and public meetings aren't allowed in Stage 3 restricted areas. It’s even harder in Stage 4 areas where they aren’t even allowed to hand deliver flyers to letterboxes. Nildhara Gadani, a council candidate for the City of Whitehorse, told me that with two children remote learning at home she has embraced technology to keep connecting but admits she really misses talking to people face to face.
Letterboxing saves money and face-to-face engagement is the most effective way to connect. As a political candidate I have to work against the stigma of politics – ironically by talking politics.
Older generations are likely to be less tech savvy. In this Shire the median age is 50 years compared to the Victorian average of 37 years so a large cohort could potentially miss out on meeting new, arguably better options.
The Coronavirus restrictions should be kept for as long as needed to prevent the disease spreading but the restrictions have exposed and often magnified existing inequalities in our society. Council elections aren’t excepted from this inequality.
It has come as quite a surprise to me that I would be longing for door-knocking, which is effectively cold-calling in person.
Despite it all, I'm enjoying those long walks with the kids!
Despite the incredible curriculum developed by the local school, when I ask my prep aged son to sit down and do his work it’s like I’ve asked him to watch paint dry while breaking his favourite toy.
Inevitably the house is a mess, the requests for food are constant and a phone call is usually interrupted by the cries of a small child. Throw in a Zoom meeting and I am held for ransom.
I very nearly bought them a pony so I could get 10 minutes of peace; instead I got a dog.
Undoubtedly some of my experience is similar for others working from home.
In the Bass Coast Shire women make up 51.5 per cent of the population yet only two out of the nine councillors in our current council are women.
Under current COVID restrictions, incumbent councillors will be even more favoured in the election as people tend to go for the familiar when they haven’t had chances to learn about or meet new candidates.
Door knocking and public meetings aren't allowed in Stage 3 restricted areas. It’s even harder in Stage 4 areas where they aren’t even allowed to hand deliver flyers to letterboxes. Nildhara Gadani, a council candidate for the City of Whitehorse, told me that with two children remote learning at home she has embraced technology to keep connecting but admits she really misses talking to people face to face.
Letterboxing saves money and face-to-face engagement is the most effective way to connect. As a political candidate I have to work against the stigma of politics – ironically by talking politics.
Older generations are likely to be less tech savvy. In this Shire the median age is 50 years compared to the Victorian average of 37 years so a large cohort could potentially miss out on meeting new, arguably better options.
The Coronavirus restrictions should be kept for as long as needed to prevent the disease spreading but the restrictions have exposed and often magnified existing inequalities in our society. Council elections aren’t excepted from this inequality.
It has come as quite a surprise to me that I would be longing for door-knocking, which is effectively cold-calling in person.
Despite it all, I'm enjoying those long walks with the kids!