Be open-minded as a candidate
Dear Editor: With municipal elections Oct. 20, I’m glad that I went to the recent pre-election workshop – candidate boot camp and citizen school in Penticton.
Christina Benty, former mayor of Golden, was the workshop leader, and she was most impressed with those attending, on a Friday evening of a long weekend.
This was a worthwhile workshop that I’d encourage all citizens to attend, if it’s offered again. What I learned was an invaluable lesson, aside from that I knew already, that municipal governments were created by provincial governments, to carry out the policies of the provincial and federal governments, to provide safe, sustainable services in a predictable cost effective manner.
Then we wonder, what on earth does all this mean?
One of the most important lessons I learned at this boot camp is that it is not council’s job to tell city staff what and how to carry out the municipal government’s work. That that is the job of the chief administration officer (commonly referred to as the CAO). It’s important though, that the mayor, with the CAO, and council, work as a team with city staff. As we can see at council meetings, city staff report to council on a multitude of issues, to give expert advice to council, with options and alternatives.
Benty closed our three-hour workshop with a list of what she called Seven Deadly Sins, and how these are important (to avoid) for anyone considering being a candidate for mayor or city council, or anyone as a citizen, such as myself.
1. Come unprepared, whether as a candidate, councillor or citizen; 2. Spewing catch phrases; 3. Being impatient — Benty said that municipal governments are designed to be slow-moving, not an emergency department or drive-thru;
4. Fixed mindset – don’t be a know-it-all, knowing what’s wrong and how to fix; be open-minded;
5. Making everyone happy – we can’t do this for the entire community; 6. Complain, criticize and blame; 7. Only talk to people who agree with you. Which leads us back to being open-minded, but also knowing why municipal governments exist. Remember, democracy is not a spectator sport. Please, leave your apathy in the garbage bin, get out and get involved in your life because it is your community.
And vote on Oct. 20. Brigid Kemp Penticton