Enough Questions!
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Enough Questions!By Bill Rowsome
"Willie", said my friend, "You are great at asking questions, as is my 4 year old grandson. Give us a few answers for this municipal election. Who are you going to vote for and why?"
Ok, fair enough, comments without questions, if I can....
First of all it is a secret ballot and nobody's business as to who votes for whom (a necessary restriction from the early good old days of political rewards) but I can tell you what characteristics I think are important. Characteristics will vary somewhat among voters but these, in my opinion, are necessary for successful governors at any level.
There will be the ratepayer who is only concerned about dust suppression on the road, the maintenance of cemetery plots, and the dump opened longer hours. Obviously someone has to deal with the day to day problems, preferably staff, or in a rare situation, a councilor.
I would rather look at the larger picture and consider the council and mayor as a unit. The difference between the mayor and a council member is that the mayor is at the front, the leader of leaders, the dreamer among dreamers, and the worker among workers.
There must be vision. They must visualize 1, 10, 20 years, even generations ahead. They have a responsibility for our children and grandchildren as well as for us. A weakness of too many politicians is not to look beyond the upcoming mandate and the next election. Quickly solving a pressing problem to prevent uproar, even though it may be an adequate solution in the short run, is not necessarily the best solution. There are times one has to be unpopular. It is better to act appropriately now than have to react later.
There must be honesty. Some matters must be discussed in private but debate has to be public, sincere and publicized. There is no place for hidden or personal agendas. There are laws to prevent conflict of interest but these should not have to be considered by a basically honest person. They had to be put in place to curb the dishonest or, to be generous, the thoughtless.
There must be negotiating skills. With limited resources and many demands, a good council must be able to negotiate a reasonable solution to every need...not 'want' but 'need'. They have to establish what is necessary for their constituents and find the best method to attain this need all the while also considering the needs of others. The constituents also have a responsibility to voice their needs. There has to be knowledge; knowledge of the area, knowledge of the laws and know the constituents. Reaction to inquiries, complaints and praise has to be tempered by knowing the source and circumstances. The squeaking wheel may get the oil but often a quiet one needs it just as much.
The mayor, in addition to these characteristics, needs the ability to maximize the potentials of the councilors. Each councilor's strengths, weaknesses, and eccentricities has to be continually evaluated and considered during the decision making process. Achieving consensus and loyalty among a group of eager, ambitious and demanding councilors is a necessary art for any political leader. Who will get my vote? Sorry, a question did sneak in. I will vote for the person who best exemplifies these characteristics. I do not need criticisms of former councils. I do not need hollow promises; forgetfulness or circumstances too easily break them. I need statements of facts and beliefs. I need faith in a representative that he or she will do the best for all of us in a very demanding and thankless job.
