On the eve of the municipal elections, we thought about the democratic process and how the average voter fits into that equation.

The Victoria council/mayor’s race, for example, attracted a record number of candidates – 35 for council and eight for mayor. That turnout can be taken more than one way.

On the one hand, it’s great so many people feel they have an opportunity to participate in the process and have chosen to lend their voice and thoughts to the running of their city.

On the other, the ability of community organizations to host meaningful all-candidates meetings giving the public a chance to hear the views of said individuals has been greatly hampered, due to the candidates’ widely varied understanding of what it means to run for office.

We give kudos to groups such as the Cridge Park Rescue Society, which, when faced with the very real possibility of yet another unsatisfying discussion between the voters and candidates, chose to host a trade show style event. Voters had one-on-one discussions with candidates who were seated behind tables.

Not all of Greater Victoria’s 13 municipalities have been faced with the same kind of proliferation of candidates – Langford Mayor Stew Young and View Royal Mayor Graham Hill are acclaimed, while a handful of other races have just two candidates, for example. But the willingness of the public to sit and listen to council candidates who really have little grasp of the issues, or are individuals with a single issue or ax to grind has to be dwindling.

Maybe it’s time to get more stringent on the requirements for candidates. But instead of raising the dollar amount required – it would be unfair to financially prevent a person from running – why not force council hopefuls to come up with at least 10 names of nominators who live in the municipality at a fixed address.

Then perhaps voters would be more likely to hear serious candidates who take the process seriously enough to put in the effort. They’re the kind of people who deserve to be elected.