CITY COUNCILS NEED LEADERS, NOT EXPERTS
Best politicians have a vision and ability to work together, writes George Cuff.
Our democracy is a cherished possession. Wars have been fought for it; people have died for it; reputations have been made and destroyed by it; families have been divided over it; taxes have gone up by it; great leaders have been elected as a result of it; and those with lesser skills, intellect and ability have requested the public’s endorsement by it.
Based on what we read in both the door-to-door pamphlets delivered by those volunteering to serve on the municipal councils in this region and in the brief clips provided to the news media, we have quite a number of folks qualified for positions in engineering, road maintenance, recreation programs, LRT designs, project management, communications, emergency response, bylaw enforcement, traffic control, et cetera.
In fact, we almost have all of the core functions of a city covered.
Applications are being accepted at — wait a minute! We actually are not looking for any of these skills.
When the city does need any of the foregoing, a notice is placed on their employment link and folks apply for paid work.
Most, if not all, of those positions pay more than a city councillor.
We are not looking for those skills (and others) because an election is not about finding the best qualified staff. Rather, our elections are supposedly about trying to elect those whom we believe best capable to provide leadership and quality governance to municipalities large and small.
We need people who ... can set direction on major issues rather than focus on bylaw infractions or the timing of stop lights.
We will fail badly if we instead try to find additional engineers or managers.
As the public, we benefit if we manage to elect folks who are like us: interested in the community’s well-being; independentminded; willing to be a team player with the rest of those elected to council; prepared to disagree (but agreeably); able to ask questions; available to attend meetings which may place full-time employment in jeopardy; willing to attend innumerable social events; willing to put our family name in front of the crowd and in the media; able to withstand the slings and arrows fired from often anonymous and gutless people; and happy to see some progress made on very difficult files.
We need people who are passionate about this community and keen to make a positive difference in its future; those who can set direction on major issues rather than focus on bylaw infractions or the timing of stop lights. Applications?
Form a line to the right. Being elected?
Put aside any notion of helping the city manage its affairs.
That is seldom the problem or the need.
Citizens are pleading for common-sense leaders who might also bring to the table a clear-headed, practical vision for a sustainable future.