Keating’s work much appreciated
Re: Veteran city councillor Keating says he won’t be seeking re-election in 2021, June 23
While Coun. Keating’s last city meeting is still a long way off, I wish to thank him for his exemplary service over three terms.
Doubling your workload, a decrease in remuneration, less time spent with family and friends, working late nights and weekends, and harsh and often unfair public criticism can be the rewards for having “won” an election. It’s not a job for the faint of heart. Encouraging good men and women from diverse ethnic backgrounds to put their names forward for 2021 will be a challenge. They must have integrity, boundless energy, ethics, be highly principled, possess great wisdom, and importantly, have people skills to work together with others to move us ahead as a community.
We would be wise to heed Coun. Keating’s concerns about the future of municipal politics. We cannot afford another four years with councillors who do not know how to “disagree without being disagreeable,” and whose political modus operandi is to polarize rather than build consensus and unity.
Peter Teppler, Calgary