A South Shore journalist is eyeing up a political position with the Town of Lunenburg.
After spending the last few years reporting on the happenings of various municipal governments, Lunenburg’s Ed Halverson is running for a council seat.
Halverson said he is eager to take on local politics from the other side of the table, if elected.
“When I cover a story, I look at things from all angles,” he said.
“That is going to serve me well in council, because you can’t go in there with your own biases. You need to listen to, what are the issues people are presenting and what are the facts that are coming back at you.”
Halverson hopes he can use his experience as a journalist to bring a sense of objectivity to council, which will allow him to make well informed decisions to the benefit of the community, he said.
When it comes to important town issues, he said just focusing on one is not enough.
“I think if anyone is getting into politics to forward one particular issue, they are in it for the wrong reason,” he said,”I think you what you really need to do is focus on what are the community’s concerns.”
In speaking with members of the community, he’s found the most important issues seem to be related COVID-19, development, housing and the harbour among others.
While COVID-19 has swayed many candidates to focus primarily on digital outlets to campaign, Halverson said he feels a more personal approach is still needed, as long as its safe.
“The call is still there, people still want you on their doorsteps, they want to meet the person, look you in the eye and make an assessment, and that’s fair,” he said.
“So my plan is, I will go door to door, however I will socially distance, I will wear a mask. I’ll knock on their door, step back, and if they don’t want to speak with me, I’ll leave some information.
“From what I’m hearing, that’s what people want.”
Information on Halverson’s campaign and ways to contact him can be found on his Facebook campaign page.
