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华裔参选者须走出族裔社区

What does it take for heritage candidates to win an election?
来源: Bob Mok

尽管在最近的万锦市选中,华裔参选人数量创下纪录,但最终,许多欲在市议会上赢得一席之地的参选者都不幸铩羽而归。Bob Mok指出,族裔候选人必须设法赢得非族裔选民的民心,走出族裔社区而另辟蹊径。

Despite a record number of Chinese candidates trying to run for municipal office, many failed to win a council seat in the recent Markham election. As Bob Mok writes, heritage candidates must reach out to voters who do not vote along the heritage line.

目前万锦市选已经落下帷幕,在此次选举中并没有太多非现任华裔候选人当选。由于现任候选人拥有政绩、选民和企业人脉,并且在媒体上也拥有一定知名度,因此他们不在此次讨论范围之内。

The municipal elections are over now and not too many non-incumbent candidates with Chinese heritage were elected. Incumbents have the advantage of having a performance record, people and business connections, and name recognition in the media, so they are not within the scope of this discussion.

如果这些华裔候选人想在四年后重整旗鼓,或是准备参加随时可能到来的任何一次补选,那么现在是时候反思华裔候选人试图推翻或取代现任者的结果为何会如此惨淡,并从中吸取教训,以提高竞选水平。

It is now time to reflect on the reasons why the results were so dismal for Chinese heritage candidates trying to unseat or replace incumbents, lessons learned by them to improve if they try again four years hence and to prepare for any by-elections that may take place between now and then.

 

此前,我曾在另一篇文章中谈及我低估了“明星效应”和“专业效应”。作为一名统计学家,我现在还需要探讨“数字”游戏。除非选举是在一个特定族裔群体人口过半并且其中拥有大量热情选民的地区举行,寄希望于通过“族裔”选票获胜的候选人注定会失败。

Early on, I talked about my underestimation of “Star Power” and “Profession Power” in another article. As a statistician, I must now also address the “numbers” game. Unless the election is held in an enclave with a dominating 50% majority of a certain heritage group with enthusiastic voting members, the hope of winning strictly based on the “Heritage” vote is doomed to fail.

一般来说,市政选举的投票率都不到40%。在这种情况下,族裔候选人最多可从中获得30%族裔选票,但这些选票必需大家共享。但这种理想状况的前提是该族裔团体的“所有人”都参加投票。可是从传统上来说,部落或族裔选民往往不倾向于参加选举,而这会进一步减少投票总数。因此,候选人必须争取来自自身族裔群体以外的投票,虽然这些选民不会按照族裔路线投票,但他们会将票投给最佳候选人。

Typically, less than 40% of voters will vote in a municipal election. Under the scenario above, a maximum of 30% total votes can be garnered from heritage votes by “Heritage Candidates” and that has to be shared amongst all of them. And this is under ideal conditions where “everyone” from the group comes out to vote. Traditionally, tribal or heritage voters tend not to participate in elections and this further diminishes the vote totals. The bottom line? Candidates must get votes from outside of their own heritage groups where people do not vote along heritage lines but instead vote for the best candidates.

 

你是想要一个由只能勉强理解和说英语的平庸市议员组成的市议会,还是要一个无论是来自任何族裔群体,但都精通英语的最佳候选人组成的市议会?作为纳税人,你会信任哪个市议会,哪一个能够充分理解问题并知道如何利用表决为你争取最佳利益?因此让我们来看一看如何才能成为“最佳”候选人。成功的秘诀是什么?

What would you rather have - a Council full of mediocre councillors many of whom can barely understand and speak English or a Council full of best candidates, no matter which heritage group they come from, who have mastered the English language so they understand and can communicate well in English. Which of these two Councils would you trust with your tax dollars, would best understand the issues and would know which way to vote in your best interests?  So let's take a look at what it takes to be a "best" candidate. What is the formula for success?

虽然对此没有固定的公式,但仍有许多迈向成功之路的积极做法。请记住市议员是当地政府的一个政治职位,其需要应对大量形形色色的问题。基于这样的理念,需要谨记以下一些政治要素:

Well there's no one formula but there are a lot of positives which point the way to success. Keep in mind councillor is a political position in local government, .dealing with a myriad of different issues. With that in mind here are a few political pointers:

诚信选民希望候选人诚实、可靠并奉公守法。曾有候选人在这个最重要的问题上栽跟头。不要捏造或夸大你的功绩,因为这太容易核查,你甚至会在毫不知情的情况下名誉扫地。

INTEGRITY - candidates are expected to be truthful, honest and law-abiding. One candidate was defeated on this most important of issues. Don't fudge or exaggerate your credentials. It's too easy to check and for you to be discredited without you even knowing about it. 

在社区参与及地方参政方面表现不俗

PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF COMMUNITY COMMITMENT AND INVOLVEMENT IN LOCAL POLITICS AND ISSUES

 

        积极参与地方纳税人协会的活动,并有一定成就(不仅仅只是挂个名)

·         Involvement in a Local Ratepayers' Association with demonstrated activities and achievements (not just holding a title)

  积极参与政治议题主导的活动——(从以往的例子来看)例如发表有关溜冰体育馆问题的读者来信,参加有关赌场论坛的会议,参与网上评论。

·         Participation in activities driven by political issues –(Examples from the past) Letter to the Editor on the Arena, attend a meeting on a casino  forum, engage in online commentary.

   前往市政厅参加市议会和委员会会议,阅读议程,熟悉有关问题,并就影响居民和企业的问题进行公听演说。

  • Attend Council and committee meetings at City Hall, read the agendas, become familiar with the issues and make deputations on issues affecting residents and businesses.

   组织居民或加入委员会,以解决问题或影响他们的解决方案。

  • Organize residents or join committees to work on issues or affect their resolution.

   进一步认识市府机构;了解地方市政府和区域市政府的不同,及其不同的责任和问题。

·         Develop an understanding of the municipalworld; learn the difference between local and regional municipalities, their different responsibilities and issues.

 

   练习面对不同的观众发表公开演讲,培养清晰演讲和最终做到脱稿演讲的能力和信心。在演讲时抬头挺胸有助于发声。避免只顾埋头读稿或是讲话含混不清。

·         Practise public speaking, with different audiences. Develop confidence in your ability to speak clearly without hesitation and eventually without notes. Hold your head high it helps to project your voice. Avoid burying your face in your notes or speech and mumbling.

 

    尽量让自己出名,让自己变得众所周知。尽可能多地参加选区或城市各

地的会议。这些会议都是在晚上举行。多结识身边的人。在晚餐和宴会上和根本不可能投票给你的知名政客和名人拍拍照片骗不了人,因此该多花时间和有可能投票给你的人交谈。

·         Try to make a name for yourself, get yourself known. Attend as many meetings across the Ward or City as you can. They all take place in the evenings. Introduce yourself around. Photographs at dinners and banquets with well-known politicians and celebrities who can't vote for you fool no one. Spend your time talking to people who can vote you into office.

 

换句话说也就是在参选前先做好功课!

IN OTHER WORDS DO YOUR HOMEWORK BEFORE APPLYING FOR THE JOB!

 

在大多数情况下,这种准备 工作需要花费数年时间,如果你很有天赋,那可能需要2-3年时间;如果 你不够幸运,那可能需要6-8年或是更长时间。这很像是一个学徒,需要奉献精神和毅力。不要指望自己在选举日之前突然名声大噪并当选,只有很少人有这种运气。

In most cases this kind of preparation takes years, 2-3 if you are extremely talented, 6-8 or more if you are not so lucky. It's very much like an apprenticeship and it takes dedication and perseverance. Don't expect to come out of the woodwork in the lead-up to Election Day and get elected. Very few people have that kind of luck.

最近的万锦市选还凸显出一个重要因素,那就是候选人是否有能力与选民进行沟通。候选人不仅仅只是按照准备好的演讲稿或答案照本宣科,在回答问题时还必需用英语表达自己的意见和想法。因为事先准备好的答案未必有效,并且常常缺乏灵活性。实际上,一些只是按照准备好的稿件照本宣科的候选人表现非常糟糕。因此,如果一个候选人想要争取选民,尤其是那些在部落/族裔投票圈外的选民,就必需充分证明自己的语言技能。

A major factor revealed in the recent municipal election in Markham was the ability/inability to communicate to voters. The candidates must articulate their ideas and thoughts in English when answering questions, not just read from a prepared speech or answers. Prepared answers are never effective and typically lack flexibility. Some candidates actually did very poorly even with the simple task of reading from a prepared sheet. The effective demonstration of linguistic skills is essential if one wants to reach out to voters, especially those outside of the tribal/heritage voting circle.

 

即便在做好一切必要的准备后,一些候选人仍有可能落败,输给一个勤奋、知识渊博和善于沟通的候选人。在有多名候选人争夺同一族裔选民情况下,部落/族裔选票很容易分散。无论你相信与否,性别因素在竞选中也会起到一定作用。如前所述,“明星效应”和“专业效应”虽然也有一定帮助,但最近的万锦市选中证明其并非明显的主要因素。

Even after doing all the necessary preparation, the combinations of candidates can stilllead to ruin and failure for a diligent, knowledgeable, and communicative candidate. Tribal/Heritage vote splitting due to multiple candidates competing for the same available pool of voters can do that easily. Gender, believe it or not, can also play a role in who is getting elected. As stated earlier, “Star Power” and “Profession Power” will definitely help but they are not the main factors as was evidenced in the recent Markham Municipal Election.

对于参加此次竞选的机会主义者来说,请起床做一些功课和准备。你说你已经全心投入,但口说无凭请用行动证明。如果得不到部落/族裔选票外的选票,那你注定会失败。接近当选而未能胜选则是毫无意义的。

To the opportunists who ran in this election, please wake up and do some homework and preparation. You say you are dedicated, prove it. Without getting any votes beyond the tribal/heritage pool, you are doomed to failure. Coming close is just not good enough, when you cannot go any further.

最终的投票结果就是最好的证明,同时也是对全力投入和准备充分的候选人的回报。

The final vote count is the best proof and reward for a dedicated andwell-prepared candidate.

 

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