West Bolton’s Badger retires after 42 years of public service
While all municipalities are gearing up for the November elections, after 42 years of public service, West Bolton will be seeing a big shift with Mayor Donald Badger handing over the reigns and stepping into retirement.
Admitting that he has been involved with municipal politics all these years because he felt that it was something he had to do, Badger has served his community since 1975, first as a councillor for 18 years and then as mayor for nearly a quarter of a century. “When you take on public service you are taking on the conscience of the entire municipality. We are there to defend the rights and in- terests of all citizens. Sometimes it can become burdensome when there are conflicting perceptions of how things should be,” he admitted. “But for me, it’s a simple retirement. I have no regrets. I have seen a lot of evolution. All cities go through evolutions.” When Badger started, the municipality was all about subsistence farming. “It wasn’t easy here because the soil was so poor. Outsiders eventually bought up farms.”
Badger explained that the challenges within the evolution stem from people arriving who don’t have the track record. If you are new to the game and have a different background, you bring a different view. He believes that it is best to detach himself from what will be the new administration led by former coun- cillor Jacques Drolet, who takes the seat as mayor by acclamation.
“I don’t see myself influencing them one way or another,” he said.
Looking back Badger says that West Bolton has the lowest tax rate in the MRC Brome-missisquoi with all other municipalities at least double last year. “We have been able to maintain the rate at 36 cents since I started in municipal politics in 1975. It is the same today.” Badger explained that to keep the tax rate constant there has to be an increased investment that is equivalent to the rising cost of services. If the cost of services goes up faster than the investment, the tax rate will have to go up. “We have been successful in maintaining it the same for 42 years.”