Election season is always an exciting time in the newsroom, but this time around, it seems a bit different. Yes, there are the easily-generated stories that flood our paper once the writ is dropped – which is always a good thing in the news business – and the short election period, just 28 days, certainly doesn’t allow us much time to inform voters. But the main difference we’re noticing this year is the mudslinging inundating our mailboxes. Though Premier Rachel Notley has not made a single visit to Airdrie during her time in office, it seems we can’t go day in this newsroom without receiving multiple emails from her party slamming UCP candidate Jason Kenney – and that was before the legislature was dissolved. Of course, Kenney is in the midst of a scandal that makes the attack rather easy, and the party is facing questions of internalized racism with the resignation of Calgary-Mountain View candidate Caylan Ford March 18. And while Kenney himself has avoided engaging in personal attacks on Notley, his political staff and party members have outspokenly criticized NDP supporters and members of the media. While some mudslinging is always expected during a campaign, things have changed since the arrival of Trump-style politics, and it is disheartening to see this playing out at home. Twenty-eight days will go by quickly, and we hope to see parties showcasing well-developed platforms rather than tearing down opponents, but, so far, it doesn’t look like this will be a clean battle. Voters may need to take it upon themselves to see through the squabbles and focus on what parties are actually offering.
