A WEE NOTE OF SUPPORT FOR LOCAL COUNCILLORS IN GRAVENHURST
I ran for Bracebridge Council twice and got clobbered. Two reasons why? Even as a writer with a pretty fair readership, the voters didn’t want an editor and columnist representing their interests. Stands to reason that if they didn’t like my widely published opinions, which were pretty hard on developers, then they wouldn’t even entertain the possibility of awarding me a vote. Secondly, as it relates to the first, I have been against urban sprawl for decades and in Bracebridge, and the voters felt that jobs and economic prosperity were infinitely more desirable than pastureland....in the case of Ball’s Flats where the plaza development now dominates the landscape. If I was clearly mistaken about anything it was the misguided belief that readers could be votes "for."
Both times I felt my campaign was balanced and of sensible proportion and both times, I found out that opinion is just that......and not one vote more than the one I checked for myself. I vowed after two defeats that there would never be a third strike taken. Really. Instead of vowing to win the very next municipal election, I decided to quit trying....hence there never was a third strike to make. Cowardice. More like resignation that as an "ideas" man, who has always worn his opinions like brightly colored ribbons on a compromised lapel, I was never going to be able to advocate the kind of urban activity, the majority of voters demanded. So rather than be in an ongoing battle with everyone it seemed, my life as a politician was left at the dream stage. Here’s why that’s a good thing!
As a reporter / editor and longstanding historian, I have worked closely with municipal councils, and been a keen follower of government activities in our region, both as a profession, reporting for the local press, and as an associate of local government, representing several groups, including the Bracebridge Historical Society and the Crozier Foundation, that both needed ongoing council / councillor co-operation. Working in conjunction with the town gave me the insight into business operations I hadn’t witnessed as a reporter.....and that had been a critical failing of perspective. My years as a reporter, covering hundreds of council meetings, and writing weekly articles about political issues, gave me a tremendous insight into local governance, the good, bad and the ugly. A lot of what went on I couldn’t write about and there was much more that demanded months of investigative reporting to be responsible with story-line. None of us had the time and money to invest in this, and it was hard enough to report day to day, with the obstacles thrown in front of a skeleton crew of writers.
I never once believed that the councils, I was covering, were in any way corrupt or dishonest in their governance, just that they didn’t wish us to know certain things.....that were within their rights to withhold......but our "public’s right to know" mantra pounding in our minds. We always seemed to be battling on that front, and it set us at odds many times, with councillors who always had the town’s best interest at heart. We knew that. We just didn’t appreciate what we thought at the time, were cover-ups and mis-leading information from the truth at hand. Upon years of reflection, I realize we were a merciless crew, and it undoubtedly built up opposition, based solely on the near-confrontational way we asked questions and pursued hearsay. We all usually agreed to disagree with each other, shook hands, and wrote our stories....and they yelled at us....or ignored us when the stories ran above the fold.....which may have shown them in a poor light you might say. It wasn’t our mission to do this but the tug-a-war between our disciplines caused many gaps in understanding that were indeed failures to communicate.
After my failed election campaigns, I cowered from ever trying political office again. I even wrote about it once in a column for Muskoka Today......that nothing could ever influence me to take up that horrible task of being a councillor. Pretty profound for a guy who seems to take pot shots at council a lot? It must be a lot easier being a critic than a player? Well it is easier writing from here than sitting in a council meeting, being yelled at by some unrepentant, unhappy property owner....that goes without saying. I don’t make hasty comments that I can’t defend but I still appreciate it as being easier to pen thoughts from a safe house than calm angry citizens in person. I’m not in the habit of criticizing council pay increases.
While it might not seem like it via blog editorials, the truth is, I know full well how impossible it can be to assume responsibility, for the responsible operation of local government. It is without question a thankless job. It is a task that requires not only thick skin but the personal character to withstand abuse, weather every storm, put out fires, appreciate contrary opinion, be a diplomat, a negotiator, a restorer of faith, and a missionary all at once. And be particularly good at problem resolution, and have a conscience that is loaded with integrity and sensibility because you will be tested, and frequently.
As for Gravenhurst councillors, they do take a lot of heat, and leading up to this fall’s municipal election, present representatives will face a grilling and criticism, over and above what they’ve received any time in the past. Taxes are hurting us big time, along with other increases to hydro, water and sewer. Taxpayers see debt-load as a huge factor in our ability to function with any kind of true financial prosperity in the next ten years, and they see a new town hall as an extravagance we can’t afford. In this respect, I do support the local ratepayers group that is currently making this a main focus for the upcoming election. They have my support. But I also feel sorry for the councillors who believe whole heartedly, that their ambitions for a new town hall, are aimed at making a positive investment in their home town. Having worked on similar projects which didn’t exactly make taxpayer’s pleased, it is a gut-wrenching decision to support what the public appears to resent. Those who have voted and support this project obviously have their reasons, and have done their homework regarding costs over-runs and the burden of debt they are bestowing upon us.....the taxpayers. Still, I have to admire their courage and conviction that they are doing the right thing.....and when you learn about the growing opposition to the plan, and to stay the course regardless, is a show of faith that is either misguided, or abundantly responsible and sincere. The fall-out of a bad decision will be huge. They seem willing to face the consequences, and I am somewhat comforted by the fact they are willing to stand up to their opponents, for what they believe is the right call for everyone. On the other hand, democracy is known for handing out meaty discipline to those who deserve it.
This does read with some flavor of hypocrisy because making a bad decision, whether as a group or singularly, can’t be diminished or neutralized by bravery alone. There have been many brave decisions that went horribly wrong with many consequences. Having worked with dozens of government officials, and councillors over the years, I recognize one reality as the great equalizer......and that is the will of the majority of voters. If they believe councillors made correct moves and responsible decisions, they will be afforded the consideration they warrant. If they, in the minds of the electorate, screwed up, then their term of office will be cut to a several line entry in local history.
While I’m sure there are many who would be shocked to read this, I do have respect for a number of our elected officials.......when one might assume, by my past forays with the same group, that nary a one has any redeeming quality. Those seeking re-election will have to address some of the shortfalls that have irritated many of us in the past four years......but I’m willing to hear their side. I’m pretty sure they all know that an eight percent tax increase, with no apology, won’t get them re-elected. So I will entertain any new information that comes along, so that I can truly judge their courage and experience dealing with the critical operation of local government, .......or whether they are of the minority who feel the taxpayer is simply an annoyance to be tolerated and nothing more. This year will be different, and I dare say, the annoyance factor will translate into votes against arrogance.
Upon many years of reflection, "no" I would not want to be an elected official. I have a thin skin, I like to throw stones and not be hit by them, and I’m prone to fisticuffs against my adversaries.....I’m Irish you know. But beyond the bluster that is me, I love this home town, and I would do anything to help it secure a better and more prosperous future. And I’m reasonably sure that all our council members have a pretty fair allegiance to the town as well.....so I don’t doubt that they truly desire a better Gravenhurst for their families....... and are genuinely trying to achieve this. It comes down to a battle of whether we can afford the lengths gambled, in order to secure perceived prosperity. In other words, is the mission to achieve "prosperity within progress," balanced on a precarious, existing and growing financial risk to the prosperity we already enjoy. Ask these questions of all council hopefuls. Spare them the scorn. If you were to walk in their shoes but a short distance, well, you’d soon appreciate their job isn’t all that enviable.
And you might say "they knew what they were getting into before they ran for election!"
If only that was true! Even for experienced council members, each term is unrelenting in its challenges, daunting in difficulties.

Citizens need to get off the fence - and demand accountability of councillors

I’ve just now finished reading the weekly news and have been clenching my jaw for the past half hour. The elected officials representing our home town interests, have made it clear they’ve cut individual department budgets responsibly, and that a proposed eight percent increase is the result of fiscal responsibility. No it’s not! If they were responsible the new town hall project would be scrapped, plain and simple. It’s what most of us have had to do throughout our lives. We’ve had to deny luxuries, even staples, in order to survive financially in all other areas of life and times.
The problem with our elected officials is really quite simple. They believe, when they are elected, the votes "for" are clear evidence of popularity and support for their management prowess. Elected councillors have a false sense of security, and may be quite delusional in fact, about the range of authority they’re entitled. Almost sensing a divine right to possess the seat at the council table, they almost immediately develop the "do you know who I am" self-righteousness that has doomed many, many high fliers in the past. From the pre-election begging for votes, to the post election arrogance, is a really short but profound adventure in character. From being sincere that they do give a crap about your concerns, to not recognizing your right to question them within weeks of the turn-around, it’s an all too familiar failure in democracy. While elections do not provide us with conduits to everything we, the constituents desire, we do assume that councillors will remain humble and insightful enough, to recognize that democracy does have inherent checks and balances. As they have their rights and privileges to govern and make responsible decisions, they shouldn’t be aghast when constituents challenge actions and policies that appear to be irresponsible.
An eight percent tax increase is staggering to this ratepayer, and if it happened in the City of Toronto, not just heads would roll. And although councillors can claim they’ve been as fiscally responsible as they can be, without cutting services further than they already are, the very reality of a new town hall is sickening. The new pool is far more important than town hall, and even though I probably won’t use the facility myself, its longterm benefit to the community is undeniable. If there was a separate demand for fundraising, a one time extra hundred dollars or so, to offset that cost, it would be infinitely more acceptable than providing frills at town hall, regardless of the feeling of entitlement,...... a few councillors view as "making all the difference" to a happy town administration. Councillors are not living within their means as most of us have to contend.
There is a serious disconnect blooming hardily in our town.....an unacceptable indifference to the personal hardships and disadvantages that weigh us down. Do councillors appreciate the fact that we need the Salvation Army to operate the Food Bank? Has any town councillor given five minutes thought to the potential that the group may not be able to operate the facility forever.....and is there a plan "B". When one councillor recently was quoted as saying the downtown is such a vibrant place, it was clearly a case of delusion because it’s not the case. Maybe councillors need to actually walk up and down the mainstreet, that will soon be ripped up for re-construction, and count the vacancies in this vibrant zone. I apparently don’t understand what "vibrant" means, because in the case of some business folks downtown, it means having one foot on a banana skin. I can not tolerate elected officials being unaware of the intricacies of their own town. Do we have a poverty issue? How big is it? How many people are going through the food bank each week? Are you aware of the difficulty the Food Bank is having presently, to meet demand? If you are a councillor who knows that the answers to these questions are "large," "expanding," and "precarious," then for God’s sake drop the facade and the word "vibrant," and pull some of the other naysaying, or nothing-saying councillors onboard, for a truly revealing tour of stuff they should know inside and out.....and be bloody concerned that the illusion of progress is just that.......an illusion.
Gravenhurst citizens have few choices left. Either get involved in this year’s municipal election or live with many, many more tax increases in the near future. When you are afforded an opportunity this year to discuss issues with council hopefuls, don’t hold back asking questions about competence and leadership capabilities. Ask about what democracy means to them......and if they subscribe to the dynamic of democracy that allows us access to the government process. If they sputter and fart about, and don’t know what you’re getting at, don’t waste a vote on these folks. When you have a chance to address one of these "I’m going to save democracy" grip and grinners out on the election hustings, ask of them for a wee meeting of the minds..... to make a few inquiries about reasons they wish to be councillors / mayor; for civic good or "I just want to prove that I can be a winner!"
The wake up call in Gravenhurst is clear. There are many folks today in organized groups well aware of the shortfalls in responsible governance, of the past seven years...... which has been a highly controversial period in local history......and I am afterall an historian with no reason to lie about such a thing. Councillors have drawn a huge amount of attention to their decisions to allocate funds and borrow more. They have made claims about being fiscally responsible yet feel it is almost an invasion of privacy to be hounded by those who pay the taxes. My honest advice for any one interested in a council position for the coming four year term, post November, is to think about your own commitment to democracy. Think before you put your name on that ballot, about the balancing act you must perform to work responsibly for a more prosperous community.....and how to separate your personality and opinions, from the job you have been elected to perform.....which is to be open to constant education, committed to reason and debate, crowned by insightfulness and open-mindedness. Sometimes staunch opinions should be left home when the elected official goes to the council chambers.....unless it is one that unquestionably brings the right ingredient to the improvement of municipal governance. Far too much untutored, unhelpful, non-requested personal opinion enters the forum where it clearly doesn’t belong......good business and good management do belong.
I have found, in large part, many elected officials believe they are smart and accomplished enough, and that’s why they were elected. With the miserable turn-out of voters, they should be well advised that even as a popularity contest, well, it’s not much of an endorsement. Years of being abused and ignored by local government hasn’t done much to inspire the electorate to surge in enthusiasm. They truly believe the new crop will be the same as the old no matter what! It’s the trend all over in a population that feels democracy is the act of electing a dictator. Yet every now and again there is a rearing of civil disobedience that makes being an elected official quite precarious. Objectors do get involved and they do make demands. With an eight percent tax increase this year, in Gravenhurst, it’s reasonable to assume the old crew is on the way out. I can’t imagine lakeshore property owners relaxing on this issue, and I happened to be a reporter in the early 1980's, when several cottager associations, in our region, ran a slate of candidates for municipal elections...... to insist on representation for their concerns. I think it will be an issue again. And rightly so. There are many inequalities out there that will soon have to be addressed as taxes and property assessments continue to climb.
It’s not easy to be an elected official.....admittedly, you’ve got to be somewhat popular and convincing to get the votes. I don’t underestimate the stress that is placed on councillors, and the huge responsibility they face running the community infrastructure, budgeting and servicing us all. At the same time it is exactly what they signed up for......and while they might complain about the burdens they are expected to carry.......we offer not a single apology. Don’t run if you have a fragile constitution, or you feel above criticism. If on the other hand, you are the candidate who carries on with the same enthusiasm as demonstrated before the election, into your term, then you will appreciate that meeting adversaries and inviting counter-point, is the very reason hot water is applied to ice at the arena to make a good, fast drying surface. Being prepared for contrary opinion is just an aspect of enlightenment. Most adversaries of town council maintain their grudge because of longstanding indifference. Yet it might surprise councillors to know that adversaries can also be good friends of government, as hot water to ice, when approached as equals, not as pursuers and shit disturbers for the sake of argument.
I like this town. I don’t like the politics. I don’t like the indifference shown by some councillors to counter-point, just because it doesn’t mesh with their own mission statement or game plan. We need councillors who represent all of us at once, and respect that it is our home town as much as theirs, and we have every right to defend its prosperity and welfare regardless .......whether we are elected officials or just plain old folk who have a little common sense to reflect upon.
No councillor should feel too comfortable, too complacent about their role in democracy, if they believe constituents only have a say once every four years. It’s the first misconception of many that need to be stripped away in this new reality of fiscal reconsideration.
As for the new council term, the number one issue is the status of South Muskoka Memorial Hospital, and its reduction of services. As our councils in Gravenhurst, and Bracebridge, have been encouraging and facilitating retirement communities to expand residences, how irresponsible to be so quiet when cutbacks are being imposed.......to the very health care provision that inspired those senior resident developments in the first place. This is a clear example of stupidity at a zenith, and will necessitate ongoing municipal protest and action against the province.