Probably not. And one would hope not, for there is in meet-the-candidates forums all that life can afford…

You want roads, rates and rubbish? Meet the candidates. You want rivers, recreation and heritage relics? Meet the candidates.

In fact, for any aspect of rural outreach you desire in the greater Goulburn Mulwaree region: meet the candidates.

Thirteen of the 16 standing for election on Saturday will be at the Workers Club in the auditorium tonight (7pm-9pm).

For many of them, it will be one meeting among more to come over the four-year term to which councillors commit.

Let’s hope they all set out as they mean to go on, with mutual civility and sincere interest in democratic governance.

Not that these qualities alone deliver “outcomes”, but they surely set the environment in which good ideas can grow.

It might feel wearying that this is the second forum for the one council election, and so soon after the federal fuss.

But in the scuttlebutt that each forum has attracted lies the reason why as many citizens who can go, should go.

Around Politics in the Pub last week was talk of topical (ie. Greens) bias. “Politics in the Pub is so ... political,” someone said.

Well, yes. The clue is in the title.

Now around tonight’s forum is talk that it will be heavily weighted, and so skewed, by community interest groups.

Well, yes. Check the dictionary.

It’s actually the community disinterest groups who have us worried; those by-standers so impassive to politics.

That’s how bad ideas not only sprout, but spread like invasive pests, creating havoc and hard work to eradicate.

Informed participation is the least we, as electors, should offer our electees in return for their passion and productivity.

Whichever corner of the community you come from, come out and represent it, speak your truth, and listen in kind.

Do not be belittled by language that suggests you have an “agenda” or “bias” or “skew”.

What you do have is a community, and a chance to be informed and active in its future.

Or to be tired of life, sitting on the fence and picking at splinters while you wonder when the council will hand out tweezers.