Editorial: Should a hat decide?

The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry has a new warden duly elected by drawing a name from a hat. It may sound absurd in a 21st Century modern democracy, that we resort to drawing names to pick our leaders. However, that is the system we currently have.

Our voting system allows each councillor to have one vote. Once the candidates for warden are declared – this year was Evonne Delegarde and Ian McLeod – councillors vote. Whoever has the most votes becomes warden, unless there is a tie. This year there was, 6-6.

This is where the process goes off the rails. In the event of a tie, there is a second round of voting by council. If there is a tie vote again, the candidates’ names are placed in a hat, and the Counties clerk draws one. That candidate is then declared warden for the following one-year term. Ian McLeod’s name was drawn from a white hard hat and he will become warden in December.

This tie-breaking method may make sense on a reality television show, but it should not be used pick who leads Counties council. The position is far too important for such cavalier treatment. And, this is not even the first time in recent history that the warden was picked from a hat.

In 2014, Councillors Eric Duncan and Jamie MacDonald vied for the top spot. After a 6-6 tie, Duncan’s name was drawn and he served his second consecutive year as warden.
There must be a better way to break ties when they exist.

One method would be to allow time for candidates to campaign for the position after a tie is declared but before the re-vote. After all, the role of warden is to lead council. To do so, that person must be able to politic. What better way to prove that point than have him/her campaign to break a tie?

If this method fails and a re-vote still ends in a tie then don’t allow the sitting warden to vote. That guarantees a majority.

Drawing a name from a hat shouldn’t be an acceptable method of selecting a political leader.

In its remaining time in office, this Counties council should fix this archaic vote-breaking method.