Musings on municipal politics

I spent several years in the media pontificating on how to run a community. I critically assessed every decision of council, then handed down my judgment on How Things Should Have Been Done in an editorial or a column.

Like most back-seat drivers, I always found it easier to tell others how to do their jobs, rather than actually do the work myself. Everyone has 20-20 hindsight and everyone knows what's best for the town, better than the politicians, right?

I wasn't entirely without some experience. From the first year I arrived in this community, I have been a volunteer. I have sat on dozens of boards, committees, groups and associations. I built some credibility by putting in the time in the meetings and doing the jobs required - from flipping pancakes to controlling traffic at event gates to endless, droning meetings. I learned how the municipality worked, how the layers of the administration interacted, how the bureaucracy operated. I developed a fair respect for town staff and the amount of time they put in.

True, my time wasn't always without controversy or contention. But I did it because I believe that people should contribute to their community. And I also believed that in order to criticize others, I had to contribute something myself. It is in the nature of Canadians to give, not merely take.

Municipal politics attracted me because I believed they were the "purest" form of politics. Outside the largest municipalities, they are not governed by party politics. You don't speak the party line, or vote the party line like the good little robots in provincial and federal politics. You are not controlled by any leader - it's just you and your conscience. You do the best you can with each issue.

Of course I didn't realize that there were outside political influences - allegiances to parties, personal ties, relationships and similar baggage - other members would bring with them. At least these are not as overt in small-town Canada as they are in higher tiers of government. I was somewhat disillusioned, but accepted the situation and tried not to let it influence me.

Being elected to council has been a humbling experience. The first lesson I learned was that Nothing Is That Easy. Making decisions doesn't mean simply thrusting your hand up and voting. There are a lot of elements to take into consideration - budgets, staffing, planning, zoning, social issues, impact on neighbourhoods or individuals, the rights of the individual versus the greater good of the community, lobbying, special interest groups, long-term strategy and goals, conflicts between goals and groups, and age-old animosities. You have to read a lot, do your homework, and make the decision you feel is best under the circumstances.

And no matter how you vote, there's always a vocal group that doesn't like it and will criticize you - often publicly and loudly - for your choice. Some people won't ever like you or your decisions, regardless of what you do or say or how you vote. Well, I developed a fairly thick skin in my years on the paper, so all I can do about this group is shrug and continue on doing my best.

People get into municipal politics - at least small-town politics - because they care about their community. You quickly learn that, no matter what you said in your campaign, you can't change everything. You don't have the power, the authority or the money in your budget to accomplish half the things you'd like.

We're not here for the money - we're paid a stipend but it's not a salary. Most weeks we average 15-20 hours of work - from reading minutes and documents attached to agendas, to meetings both open and closed, conversations and meetings with staff, plus all the work and meetings for the boards and committees we're appointed to, and the extraneous meetings like public meetings for planning, BIA meetings, information sessions. That doesn't include the time spent talking to voters and taxpayers, explaining your position, getting input, or doing the social events representing the town, the newspaper and radio interviews, the email discussions and phone calls, conventions... for this, plus all the responsibility and liability that comes with it, councillors are paid about $15,000.

Many times I have printed and read 150-200 pages of paperwork late on a Friday for the upcoming Monday meeting, trying to comprehend the wide range of subjects, digest all the information, assess the data and develop intelligent questions or positions on the issues to be presented, within the short time alloted until council sits. Plus I've had to read the official plan, consultants' documents, studies, reports, and other external material to help make sense of what we're being asked to deal with.

Many times council meetings have run four to five hours, often longer. Since most of us also have full time jobs, there are some very long days when you also have to put in a full day in the business. We also give up weekends and evenings for events, meetings and conventions. None of us is a "professional" politician - we're your neighbours, friends, co-workers, the people who serve you in local shops or teach your children, we're just average working people like you. Few of us have any prior experience or even education in many of the areas we're required to deal with every week. We learn a lot of it on the job.

We're here, as I said, because we care. There is little money and less power in the role than most people realize. And a lot more grief and criticism than you ever expect.

We are all trying our very best to make it work, to make the right choices. Sometimes those choices are based on having a larger view of the issues than the public shares. Often what appears straightforward when presented at the table is in actuality a convoluted, complex issue with a lengthy history and a lot of contention.

Sometimes decisions are compromises. You give up something here to be able to gain something else. We don't approve funding for one cause in order to have the money to support another that has a wider reach or longer impact. The budget is limited and we can't simply tax prople for more.

Sometimes decisions are based on confidential information that can't be shared. Rest assured there are several of us at the table who fight to be sure in camera meetings stay within the legal and moral limits.

But I always make my decisions with a clear conscience that I am trying to choose the best course for the municipality. I have never been swayed from what I felt was the best decision by the persuasion of any outsider. I can't speak for other councillors, but I have never been approached by anyone who attempted to buy my vote.

It is painful, therefore, to read or hear someone accuse council - collectively or individually - of malfeasance, of back-room bargains, of underhanded dealing or simply acting against what they see as the best goals for the town. There have been suggestions of personal gain at the expense of the greater good.

I'm not sure from where these accusations arise - they're certainly not based on any reality of which I am aware. Are they from jealousy? Are people bitter or angry because his or her opinion on some matter wasn't heeded? Are there personal animosities here that transcend the issues? Or are the naysayers simply CAVEs - Citizens Against Virtually Everything - people who just don't like whatever it is we do? I don't know. I cannot fathom the motives behind any personal attack or such allegations.

We are not perfect. We are not infallible. We are not always right. And sometimes the best intentions and efforts get defeated in the final vote. That's democracy. It's messy, noisy, and sometimes ugly, but it's the best system we have. And the best way to make democracy work is to contribute to the process. Get involved, help make changes, or bring issues to the foreground for community action. Work towards common goals with council.

Dr. Samuel Johnson wrote,

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Merely sitting on the sidelines sniping at council or individual members will not accomplish anything for the community good. It just exacerbates the problems.