What we heard at the library session on sidewalks
Forty residents, one map and the same three blocks named again and again (sample notes).
City Council, Ward 4. Springfield municipal election (sample)
Maren Castillo for City Council
Election day is Tuesday 3 November.
Early voting runs 17 October to 1 November.
A neighbour of twelve years who wants safer crossings, repaired sidewalks and a library that is open when people are free (sample candidate).
Member of City Council, Ward 4
Vote for one
To vote, fill in the oval next to your choice completely, with a dark pen.
Right
Wrong
Wrong
Maren Castillo
Nonpartisan office (sample candidate)
Write-in
Print a name that is not listed
Sample ballot layout. Your official ballot lists every candidate in this contest, in the order the county draws.
Meet Maren
Maren Castillo (sample candidate) is a physiotherapist at the Grove Road clinic and has lived on Linden Street since 2014. She chaired the Riverside Park friends’ group for five years and sat on the city’s sidewalk advisory panel.
She is running because the ward’s small fixes take too long, and residents rarely hear why.
Lives in
Linden Street, Ward 4
Works as
Physiotherapist
Has served on
Sidewalk advisory panel, 2021 to 2024
Facts (sample).
Where Maren stands
The questions residents asked most at the door, answered the way a ballot asks them: yes or no, then the reason.
Yes
No
Should every elementary school in Ward 4 have a staffed crossing at opening and closing time?
Maren’s answer: yes. Four schools share two crossing guards today (sample). She would fund two more posts from the ward’s road-safety budget.
Yes
No
Should the city repair sidewalks from a public list, worst first, instead of in the order complaints arrive?
Maren’s answer: yes. A published list lets every street see where it stands and stops the loudest block from jumping the queue.
Yes
No
Should the Elm Avenue branch library open on Sundays?
Maren’s answer: yes, from noon to 17:00, by moving two weekday morning hours that have the fewest visitors (sample figures).
Yes
No
Should the Market Street parking lot start charging on Sundays?
Maren’s answer: no. Sunday is the busiest day for the shops around it, and the lot brings in little on that day (sample figures).
Yes
No
Should every bus stop on Line 7 get a shelter and a bench within four years?
Maren’s answer: yes. Eleven of the nineteen stops in the ward have neither (sample). She would start with the stops nearest the clinic and the senior centre.
Questions and figures (sample).
Listening sessions
Maren holds a session every week until election day. Come with a question; she answers what she can on the spot and writes down the rest.
Thu 22 Oct, 18:30
Sidewalks: see the repair list for your street
Elm Avenue library, community room. Step-free entrance (sample).
Sat 24 Oct, 10:00
Coffee on the corner: any question, no speeches
Riverside Park, by the bandstand. Rain moves it to the library (sample).
Tue 27 Oct, 18:00
School crossings with parents and the crossing guards
Grove Road elementary school hall (sample).
Thu 29 Oct, 19:00
Budget questions: where the ward’s road money goes
Online, with captions. The link comes by email after you sign up (sample).
Dates and places (sample).
Plan your vote
Four dates decide whether your vote counts. The ring marks the next deadline (sample dates for a 3 November election).
By 13 October
Register to vote
Check your registration with the county elections office. New residents and anyone who moved need to update their address.
By 27 October
Ask for a mail ballot
Any registered voter can ask for a mail ballot. Return it by post or to a drop box by 20:00 on election day.
17 October to 1 November
Vote early
Early voting at the Civic Centre and the Elm Avenue library, 9:00 to 18:00 every day, including weekends.
Tuesday 3 November
Election day
Polls are open 7:00 to 20:00. If you are in line by 20:00, you can vote. Find your polling place on your voter card.
Dates and hours (sample). Your county elections office publishes the official dates.
Volunteer for a few hours
Most of this campaign is neighbours talking to neighbours. Pick one shift or come every week; nobody needs experience.
Knock on doors
Walk a list of thirty doors with a partner. Training and the list are ready when you arrive.
Saturdays, 10:00 to 13:00
Call voters from home
Remind neighbours of the dates and ask what matters to them. A script and a call list are sent by email.
Tuesdays, 18:00 to 20:00
Host a yard sign
We deliver the sign and collect it the week after the election.
Any time until 3 November
Drive voters to the polls
Give a ride to neighbours who cannot get to the Civic Centre on their own.
Early voting and election day
Shift times (sample).
How contributions work
Small contributions pay for printing, yard signs and the office rent. Every contribution is reported to the city clerk and published.
Most one person can give, per election
Primary and general count as separate elections (sample rule)
$500
Contributions over $100
In the public report to the city clerk (sample rule)
Name and employer listed
Business and union contributions
A choice of this campaign (sample)
Not accepted
Tax deductible
No
Rules (sample). Your city’s election rules set the real limits.
Campaign updates
Why a public repair list is fairer than complaints
Repairs in the order complaints arrive reward the streets with the most time to complain (sample).
Early voting opens on 17 October: what you need to know
Two sites, every day from 9:00 to 18:00, until 1 November (sample dates).
Campaign office
212 Market Street, Springfield (sample)
Next to the Market Street tram stop, Line 2
Monday to Friday
16:00 to 20:00
Saturday
9:00 to 14:00
Sunday
Closed
Opening hours (sample). Step-free entrance on the park side.
