Clarke putting record to the test
Incumbent CBRM mayor seeking third term on platform of leadership, experience and success
This is the first of six pieces profiling the mayoral candidates in the upcoming CBRM municipal election. In this installment, incumbent mayor Cecil Clarke outlines his vision for the municipality, a future he claims that will be brighter under his experienced hand of leadership.
SYDNEY — With five contenders challenging him for the mayor’s chair, Cecil Clarke says he is the one candidate with the experience and leadership needed to guide the Cape Breton Regional Municipality through COVID-19 and the subsequent recovery from the pandemic.
“Experience matters now more than ever,” Clarke said in a recent interview with the Cape Breton Post.
“As we enter what is now officially becoming the second wave, we have to have a steady hand and that experience is going to make a very big difference to help guide
what will be a very new council.”
There’s no doubt that Clarke has political experience.
The 52-year-old from Sydney Mines served as MLA for Cape Breton North from 2001 until 2011, a period during which he held several cabinet portfolios, including justice and economic development, and spent a year as Speaker of the house.
Since then, he has spent the past eight years as mayor of the CBRM.
And now, he’s defending his record as he campaigns under the slogan of “building on our success” and a platform focusing on rebuilding an already struggling local economy.
“I am here to guide the municipality through the pandemic and the recovery component, and one of the ways to deal with that recovery is to continue to build on the success of getting historic levels, of finally getting our fair share of infrastructure, environmental and wastewater projects that are creating much-needed, well-paying jobs in the municipality,” said Clarke.
“I didn’t put all this work and effort in to walk away from my community. What I have looked for in the past is how much more can I build on my experience as an MLA and mayor. But now, with recovery being a very large
thing, we are at this crossroads where there is the uncertainty of the pandemic and its economic impact.”
But wait. Clarke is on record as previously stating he would not seek a third term. In fact, he even made an unsuccessful bid to become the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia midway through his second term.
So, why has he thrown his hat into the ring once again? It’s actually the first question put to the incumbent mayor in his recent interview with this publication.
“I welcome that question because I have been asked it a lot,” admitted Clarke.
“What’s changed? Everything has changed. My personal life has changed in that I got married. I now have a stability and certainty in life that wasn’t there before. That was a pivotal point. And, during the leadership race for the PC party I found myself travelling around the province defending where I was from and that only served to reinforce the pride I have of place and people.
“I’ve always said I would support and encourage anyone to seek higher office if they are from this region and can make a broader contribution that would benefit our region, province and country. But really what changed everything about the decision came down to a pandemic during which I could see fully the impacts of the shutdown. We have had to deal with the impact of COVID-19 and that
meant keeping the municipality functioning and operating, and dealing with public health and safety concerns.”
Clarke also stressed that he has the experience to deal with the new reality of multilevel governmental partnerships.
“In this complicated government world of acronyms, programs and streams, we need a steady hand to help guide the municipality as it wades through all of that government gobbledygook,” he said.
“What the average person doesn’t see is that there are all kinds of government programs, but you have to know where certain priorities sit. You have to keep doors open and you have to use your experience on every topic so you can go back and talk to the other levels of government and the community stakeholders to get things done.”
The incumbent points to the number of projects either recently completed, like the second cruise ship berth and the new Glace Bay police station, or initiatives now underway such as wastewater upgrades, the Nova Scotia Community College relocation and road and bridge repair.
“As much as we are adjusting, and as much we need to get our fair share of other resources, I see our community as being the most resilient, vibrant economically advancing one in Atlantic Canada,” said Clarke.
“We don’t have the benefits of a capital region like Halifax, St. John’s, Fredericton or Charlottetown, but what we do have is the people who are motivated, who have risen to the occasion to get through a pandemic and that same energy is going to carry this community forward.”
Clarke is the municipality’s fourth mayor since the CBRM was established in 1995 with the amalgamation of the former city of Sydney, towns of Sydney Mines, North Sydney, New Waterford, Dominion, Glace Bay and Louisbourg, and the former County of Cape Breton.
John Coady was mayor from 1995 until 1997. He was followed by David Muise (1997-2000), John Morgan (200-2012) and Clarke (2012-present).