We should value people who run for elected office

Denying leaves of absence limits choice in a democracy

Who decides who runs for elected office?

It’s a meaty question that got buried in the mess at former Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce CEO Matt Marchand’s campaign launch.

Marchand asked the chamber’s board of directors for an unpaid leave of absence to run for mayor in the municipal election Oct. 22. The chamber denied his request. Further, it warned him before he requested the leave that if he didn’t get it and still ran, the board may consider the request his notice of resignation. Hoping the chamber would reconsider, hoping he would still get a leave — and have a job — Marchand was evasive, dithered and ultimately didn’t answer the obvious question about his employment status at the launch.

It left people puzzling over how a smart guy could start a campaign for mayor, the city’s top elected office, seemingly unprepared.

But the real question is, should you have to quit your job to run for elected office? Employers don’t have to grant employees leaves of absence to run for elected office. But many do. As Marchand pointed out, McTague Law Firm granted Mayor Drew Dilkens a leave when he ran for his first term in 2014.

It can be a hassle for employers. How do they fill the void? Do other employees pick up the slack? Do they hire and train someone to work several months?

But we do it when employees are caring for infants or sick family members or grieving the deaths of family members. Maybe we should value people running for elected office, who want to serve and contribute to their communities, the same way. If we don’t, who can run? Because most people can’t afford to quit their jobs. How will ordinary people be represented? How will young people be represented? Where will new ideas come from?

We want the best candidates, not just to steer a city that still faces fundamental challenges, from diversifying its economy to revitalizing its core, but to engage voters. Only 37 per cent of voters bothered to vote in the last election. But if people can’t get a leave of absence to run, we’re limiting who can run. Why would we limit choice in a democracy?

When employers deny leaves of absence to run for elected office or force people to quit their jobs to run, it’s the ultimate chill. It can essentially veto a campaign. It means corporations and their boards of directors are deciding who runs for office. Based on what — corporate interests? Board members’ interests? Board members’ politics? Should any of this determine who runs?

Marchand was the president and CEO of the region’s leading organization for business. He was a strong voice for an auto strategy and fair trade, which are critical for Windsor. He was also a strong proponent for single-sports betting for the casino and recently called for a new provincial government program to help municipalities deal with vacant building and blight. Despite his opening stumble, he’s a legitimate candidate with something to offer.

The chamber denied Marchand’s request because “it would not be in the best interests of the chamber.” That was it. So he had to choose between his job and his campaign. He had to lay it all on the line just to run. Is that the example that a key community organization wants to set? Good corporate citizens encourage their employees to serve their community.

The chamber is apolitical, some argued. It is. That’s why Marchand needed to step away to run. And you can’t run a part-time campaign for a full-time job like mayor of a city with more than 217,000 people.

He could be “damaged goods” if he lost and returned to the chamber, some argued, unable to work with the winning mayor. I’d like to think we’re all adults (though some council actions raise doubts). Premier Rob Ford just appointed two of his opponents in the party’s leadership race, Christine Elliott and Caroline Mulroney, to significant cabinet posts.

The chamber has a second chance to get this right. Executive assistant and communications co-ordinator Lindsey Rivait is Marchand’s campaign assistant. She has also asked for an unpaid leave of absence for the campaign. She’s waiting for an answer.