The Bag of Snakes and How to Handle It

ELECTED OFFICE A BAG OF SNAKES? SOMETIMES!

ADVICE TO COUNCILLORS WAS BASED ON HAVING HELD A BAG OF SNAKES!  PART OF GOOD CITIZENSHIP TO DO THINGS WE DON'T NECESSARILY LIKE!

     NOT LONG AGO, I ASKED A CANDIDATE FOR LOCAL MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, WHY SHE WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE? WHAT WAS THE BIG PLAN? WHY COMPLICATE YOUR LIFE WITH THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF ELECTED OFFICE? THINK OF THE PHONE CALLS FROM ANGRY BASTARDS LIKE ME! HAVING CONSTITUENTS IN YOUR FACE, WHILE DINING-OUT, DOING THE WEEKLY SHOPPING, YARD SALE HOPPING, AND JUST TRYING TO RELAX IN A BACKYARD RECLINER! NEVER A MOMENT'S PEACE, FOR A RELATIVELY SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY. PROBLEMS EVERYWHERE, ALL OF THE TIME! "FOR GOD'S SAKE, WHY DO YOU WANT TO EXPOSE YOURSELF TO THE UNRELENTING FRICTION OF ELECTED OFFICE? IF PAIN'S YOUR GAME, WHY NOT JUST TAKE A LONG, SPEEDY SLIDE DOWN A LENGTH OF MUNICIPAL TARMAC, ON YOUR BEHIND, TO GET THE SENSATION OF SELF ABUSE. OR RUN THROUGH THORN BUSHES NAKED, AND THEN APPLY LIBERAL AMOUNTS OF IODINE TO THE WOUNDS?"

    FOR SOME POLITICIANS, THIS IS EXACTLY HOW IT FEELS, AND THE CONSTANT BERATING FROM CITIZENS, IS ENOUGH TO GIVE ANYONE ULCERS. PARTICULARLY BECAUSE THERE ISN'T ANY RELIEF SOLVING ONE PROBLEM, OR TENDING A CRISIS. THERE ARE TEN MORE BEHIND THAT RESOLUTION. YET IF YOU TALK TO MOST SEASONED POLITICIANS, WHO'VE DONE THE ROAD-SURFING THING, AND HAVE SOME HEALED-OVER ROAD RASH, YOU'LL FIND MOST OF THE SURVIVORS, ACTUALLY FIND THE CHALLENGES OF OFFICE QUITE STIMULATING. HAVING REPORTED ON THESE PEOPLE, I KNOW SOMEWHAT, THE NATURE OF THEIR CHARACTERS. THEY LIKE PROBLEM SOLVING, AND THEY'RE NOT ADVERSE TO MIXING-IT-UP WITH ADVERSARIES, WHO THEY WILL ADMIT, OFTEN BECOME FRIENDS AFTER THE ACCUSATIONS AND SHOUTING. THEY ARE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T SCARED-OFF BY LOUD BLUSTER, FINGER WAGGING, THE FINGER GENERALLY, OR INNUENDO; AND SELDOM IF EVER, DEFER A TRIP TO THE GROCERY STORE, BECAUSE IT MIGHT INITIATE SOME TAXATION DEBATE, BETWEEN THE CEREAL AISLE AND FRESH PRODUCE. THOSE WHO SHOULDN'T BE ELECTED OFFICIALS, TRY TO BEAT A HASTY RETREAT, OR HIDE AMONGST THE RUTABAGAS.

     WHEN I SAW THE SINCERITY IN THE CANDIDATE'S EYES, THAT SHE REALLY DID WANT TO GIVE ELECTED OFFICE A TRY, I FELT COMFORTABLE SHE WAS READY TO RIDE THE ROLLER COASTER OF EMOTION. THE HUGE INCLINES AND DEEP DECLINES, MIMIC IN PART, WHAT BEING A POLITICIAN MOST OFTEN ENTAILS. I SAW IN THE TWINKLE OF HER EYE, A GENUINE INTEREST IN THE COMMUNITY SHE WAS GOING TO REPRESENT, AND AS I'M A BIG FAN OF NEW BLOOD ON COUNCIL, I SHOOK HER HAND AND OFFERED ANY SUPPORT OUR FAMILY MIGHT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE. I DID WARN HER HOWEVER, THAT THE ULTIMATE SUCCESS OF A MUNICIPAL POLITICIAN, DEPENDS ON THE ABILITY TO PLAY SMART, LIKE A GAME OF POOL……, THREE SHOTS AHEAD. PLAYING ONE SHOT, WITHOUT A STRATEGY, IS PRECARIOUS. THE BUSINESS OF A TOWN, ISN'T STRICTLY CONFINED TO OFFICE HOURS, AND PLANNING AHEAD, MEANS YOU'LL ALWAYS KNOW WHERE THERE'S A SAFE ROCK TO CLIMB ONTO, IN THE MIDST OF A RAGING TORRENT. ORDERLINESS ON THE FIRING LINE, IN THE HEAT OF BATTLE, IS MORE A MATTER FOR THE DISCIPLINED MIND. THERE'S SO MUCH MORE IMPOSITION, THAN THE GENTLE BRUSH OF OFFICIAL PROTOCOL-PLEASANTRIES. IF ONLY THE GRIP AND GRIN PHOTO SHOOTS WERE THE TOUGHEST PART OF THE DAY.

    NATURAL DISASTERS, OR MANMADE CATASTROPHES, DON'T OPERATE ON A SCHEDULE. I REMINDED HER THAT GETTING ELECTED WAS THE EASY PART. HAVING TO PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE IN A DISASTER SCENARIO, WHERE COUNCIL IS SUPPOSED TO LEAD US THROUGH CRISIS, THE NEW NORMAL CAN GET PRETTY DARN EMOTIONAL. I'VE COVERED ACCIDENT SCENES, WITH FATALITIES, AND WATCHED ALL KINDS OF FOLKS DROPPING FROM THE SIGHT OF BLOOD, AND KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR CLOSE PROXIMITY TO DEATH. SOME WERE COLLEAGUE REPORTERS, NOT QUITE USED TO HIGHWAY MISADVENTURE UP CLOSE. MAYBE THIS ISN'T IMPRINTED IN THE MUNICIPAL ACT, OR BEEN DISCUSSED AT GREAT LENGTH BY COUNCIL. GOD FORBID, BUT IF A PLANE FELL OUT OF THE SKY ONTO OUR TOWN, THAT DOES BECOME COUNCIL BUSINESS, WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. REAL FAST ALL OUR LIVES, ACTIONS AND REACTIONS BECOME MORE DANGEROUS. ALL THE RE-ZONINGS, MINOR VARIANCES, PLANS OF SUBDIVISION, ARE PUT ON HOLD, AS THE TOWN'S DISASTER PLAN IS PUT INTO EFFECT. I SENSED SHE KNEW THIS WAS ALSO PART OF THE JOB. BUT SEEING AS I WASN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO SHOW BY EXAMPLE, HOW GUT-WRENCHING THIS CAN GET, AT THIS WORSE CASE SCENARIO, I PUT MY TRUST THAT SHE COULD BE A WORTHY RESPONDER, IF THE NEED AROSE. WE ARE ON A FLIGHT PATH, AND WE HAVE AN AIRPORT WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF OUR MUNICIPALITY. WE DON'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN, BUT IT COULD!

     WHAT I DIDN'T TELL HER, AS SOMEONE WITH A LITTLE EXPERIENCE IN MUNICIPAL POLITICS, (AS SOMEONE WHO PISSED-OFF A LOT OF COUNCILLORS IN HIS DAY), IS THAT THE FEELING OF ACCOMPLISHMENT, IS ALWAYS MORE SPECTACULAR, WHEN YOU'VE HAD TO WORK HARD, AND DILIGENTLY TO FINISH A PROJECT. I'VE KNOWN QUITE A FEW POLITICIANS WHO ADMITTED FEELING FANTASTIC, WHEN THEY HAD BEEN ABLE TO WORK TO MAKE  LONG OVERDUE, AND LIFE-CHANGING IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR COMMUNITY. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY SELF-SERVING POLITICIANS, WHO WERE THERE FOR THE WRONG REASONS. IT SHOWED. THEY DIDN'T LAST LONG EITHER, AND WE MADE SURE OF THAT FACT. OUR REPORTING STAFF COULD SNIFF OUT POMPOSITY AND INFLATED EGOS FIVE MINUTES AFTER THE ELECTION RESULTS WERE FINALIZED. WE KNEW IT BEFORE-HAND, BUT WE'D GIVE THEM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT UNTIL THEIR FIRST MOMENTS IN OFFICE. THE "I DID IT MY WAY," CLOWNS, WHO WERE QUICK TO BRAG HOW LUCKY COUNCIL WAS, TO HAVE THEIR INPUT. WE MADE THEM A PROJECT. IF THEY COULD ANSWER THE TOUGH QUESTIONS, AND THEY COULD COME UP WITH THE INSIGHTFUL STATEMENTS, WE EXPECTED OF OUR COUNCILLORS, WE LET THEM BE AS POMPOUS AS THEY DESIRED. BUT IF THEY DIDN'T PASS THE NEWS STRESS TEST, WE LET THEM FLOUNDER, AND LOOK STUPID ON THE FRONT PAGE, HAVING MADE RIDICULOUS STATEMENTS…..THAT WE DECIDED THE PUBLIC HAD A DEFINITE RIGHT TO KNOW ABOUT. IF YOU WERE A ROOKIE COUNCILLOR, WHO MAY HAVE MADE AN OFF-HAND REMARK, OR ANSWERED INCORRECTLY DUE TO LACK OF EXPERIENCE, WE WERE MUCH, MUCH KINDER. IF THEY WERE WILLING TO LEARN, AND IMPROVE, AS WELL AS TREATING US WITH RESPECT, THEY'D LOOK MUCH BETTER ON THE FRONT PAGE THAN THOSE OF A MORE BOMBASTIC CHARACTER……WHO FELT REPORTERS WERE ONE UP FROM GUTTER SNIPES.

      I TRIED TO SCARE THIS MUNICIPAL COUNCILLOR. I WANTED HER TO KNOW THAT WHATEVER SHE HAD HEARD ABOUT ME, AS A MUNICIPAL WATCHER / CRITIC, WAS TRUE, AND THAT SHORT OF BECOMING A WEREWOLF BENEATH THE BRIGHT FULL MOON, I WAS ALSO A RABID BELIEVER IN COMMUNITY PRIDE, AND THE GOOD THAT CAN BE DONE BY INSPIRED, BENEVOLENT CITIZENS. THE GOOD THAT CAN BE GENERATED FROM TOWN HALL, WHEN WE ALL FEEL A PART OF THE MUNICIPAL PROCESS. MOST OF THE TIME, AND YOU'LL HEAR THIS OFTEN, WE FEEL ON A PAR WITH "HARRY POTTER MUGGLES." COUNCILLORS WILL DENY THIS, OR THAT THEY HAVE PLAYED A PART, MAKING US FEEL SO LOWLY; BUT THAT DOESN'T CHANGE HOW MANY OF US, HAVE COME TO FEEL, LIVING, WORKING AND PLAYING IN OUR HOME TOWN.

     I INFORMED HER, THAT BY GOLLY, WHEN I'M NOT BEING A MUCK-RAKER, I'M ABOUT THE MOST APPROACHABLE GUY ANYWHERE ON EARTH, AND THAT BECAUSE I'M A HOME TOWN BOOSTER, MY ONLY STRIPE TODAY IS "GRAVENHURST." THERE IS, OF COURSE, THE MISUNDERSTANDING, THAT CRITICS CAN NEVER BE FRIENDS OR ALLIES. THAT EVEN ONE GENTLE CRITICISM IS ENOUGH TO SINK THE RELATIONSHIP. WHEN I OFFER INFORMATION TODAY, BASED ON MY OWN IMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE OF THE LOCAL NEWS MEDIA, THAT THINGS ARE SO MUCH SOFTER TODAY, THAN A FEW YEARS EARLIER, THE VETERANS KNOW I'M RIGHT. NEW COUNCILLORS AREN'T REALLY SURE WHAT THIS REPRESENTS. THE LACK OF SERIOUS, CUT-THROAT MEDIA, DIGGING HARD FOR BIG SCOOPS, TO WIN READERSHIP, MEANS THAT COUNCILLORS NOW, MAY ONLY FEEL THE SENSATION OF RUBBER TEETH GNAWING AT THEIR ANKLES, AND BE ABLE TO KICK THEMSELVES FREE. INSTEAD OF SHARK TEETH. IN MY YEARS, COUNCILLORS KNEW INTIMATELY, HOW BAD IT COULD GET, IF THEY MADE A MISTAKE WITH OFF-HAND, OR ILL CONCEIVED STATEMENTS, OR ACTIONS. I'VE HAD COUNCILLORS ON THE ROPE MANY TIMES, AND ALL I NEEDED TO HEAR WAS EITHER, "LET ME EXPLAIN," OR "SCREW-YOU," BEFORE WE CAME UP WITH THE FRONT PAGE ORDER. TRUST ME ON THIS.

    REPORTERS YOU SEE, WERE TRYING TO IMPROVE THEIR CHANCES OF MOVING-UP TO THE DAILIES, OF THIS COUNTRY, AND TO DO THAT, REQUIRED A BADGER-LIKE DEMEANOR. GETTING A FRONT-PAGER, ABOVE THE FOLD, WITH A DOUBLE OR TRIPLE-BANKED "BOLD" HEADLINE, MEANT THE STORY HAD 'WINGS." THIS TYPE OF BIG SCOOP MIGHT HAVE DESTINED, THAT THE STORY WOULD BE PICKED-UP THE THE TORONTO STAR, THE GLOBE, THE SUN OR ANY NUMBER OF OTHER PUBLICATIONS, WILLING TO PAY MONEY TO POOR REPORTERS, FOR A BREAKING STORY. SOMETIMES, COUNCILLORS FELL INTO THE STORY ACCIDENTALLY……SOMETIMES BY SIMPLE INEXPERIENCE AND BUNGLING. I WON'T NAME NAMES. BUT THERE WERE COUNCILLORS WHO CO-OPERATED WITH US, WHO GOT PREFERRED TREATMENT. SCANDALOUS YOU SAY? JUST RETURNING AN ACT OF KINDNESS. 

     I DIDN'T GET INTO THIS WITH MY CANDIDATE FRIEND, AS I COULD SEE THAT FEAR-MONGERING WAS TAKING ITS TOLL. AS I INTENDED BY THE WAY. I THINK ANTICIPATING THE BAG OF SNAKES, ELECTED OFFICE CAN SOMETIMES REPRESENT, IS A BETTER "KNOWN" QUALITY, THAN BY SUDDEN INTRODUCTION. WHICH ALWAYS ILLUSTRATES JUST HOW QUICKLY ADVERSITY CAN STRIKE FROM THE CLEAR BLUE. I SOMETIMES RAMBLE ON, IN CONVERSATION, BUT WHAT IT ALL CAME DOWN TO, IS THAT I WAS WILLING TO OFFER ASSISTANCE, AS SOMEONE EXPERIENCED IN THE PITFALLS OF ELECTED OFFICE (FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE), AND NOT AS A LOBBYIST, PUSHING AHEAD A PERSONAL AGENDA. I DON'T REALLY HAVE ONE ANYWAY. IT'S KIND OF A DAY TO DAY THING. ON OCCASION, WHEN I MAKE THESE OFFERS OF WISDOM, IN EXCHANGE FOR A CUP OF COFFEE AND A STICKY BUN, I REALIZE IT WILL NEVER FOSTER THE KIND OF RELATIONSHIP THAT IT SHOULD. SUZANNE TELLS ME I COME ON TOO STRONG, AND THAT I SCARE THE CRAP OUT OF FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS. I KNOW SHE'S RIGHT. I PLAY THE "LOU GRANT" EDITORIAL BLUSTER PRETTY WELL, AND MY FORMER STAFF USED TO PASS ME NOTES ON A STICK, TO AVOID THAT PARTICULAR HOUR'S TIRADE, ABOUT DEADLINES, NO MORE CIGARETTES AND COLD COFFEE. MY WEEKLY COLUMN WAS ACTUALLY CALLED "COLD COFFEE," OR "TEPID SLIME," AS BRANT SCOTT USED TO CALL IT.

    YET BEYOND THE BLUSTER, IS THE GENUINE ARTICLE, WHO REALLY DOES KNOW HIS STUFF, AND WHO LOVES ANIMALS, TREES, THE SEASONS, AND OLD AND ENDEARING POEMS, ABOUT LIFE AND ROMANCE. I MIGHT BE CRITICAL, AND TO A FAULT, TO SOME WHO MAY FEEL UNFAIRLY SCOOPED-UP IN MY GENERALIZATIONS. I CAN'T APOLOGIZE FOR THE IMPRESSIONS I MIGHT CAUSE, AS COLLATERAL DAMAGE OF MAKING A POINT. I DON'T MAKE POINTS I CAN'T DEFEND, AND MY PERCEPTION OF THINGS GOING ON AROUND ME, IS PRETTY ACUTE. I'M AN OBSESSIVE PEOPLE WATCHER, NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH A PEEPING TOM. EVEN AS A KID, I WAS TUNED TO THE ADULT WORLD. HOW TUNED? MY BUDDIES AND I, USED TO HANG-OUT AT THE BRACEBRIDGE TRAIN STATION, FIRSTLY, BECAUSE WE LOVED TO WATCH TRAINS PASS CLOSE BY. SECONDLY, IT AFFORDED US AN OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH AS THE BOUNCER, AT THE LOCAL ALBION HOTEL, SHOT DISORDERLY CUSTOMERS OUT THE FRONT DOOR…..WITHOUT OPENING IT FIRST. NOW BRACEBRIDGE HISTORIANS WON'T DOCUMENT THIS KIND OF SOCIAL HERITAGE, BUT I WILL….WHICH REALLY PISSES THEM OFF. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW INTERESTING IT WAS, TO WATCH THESE "FORCIBLY REMOVED" PATRONS, BRUSHING THEMSELVES OFF, ROLLING UP THEIR SLEEVES, AND HEADING RIGHT BACK THROUGH THE DOOR. WE'D WATCH THE SAME GUY GET TURFED (ON ASPHALT), FOUR OR FIVE TIMES, BEFORE HE GOT THE MESSAGE. WE DIDN'T TURN AWAY BECAUSE THINGS GOT UGLY. WE PAID ATTENTION TO WHAT WAS GOING ON IN OUR TOWN, THAT DIDN'T MAKE THE WEEKLY NEWS. IT WAS FASCINATING. IT WAS TRAGIC, OF COURSE, IN THE SENSE IT WAS HUMAN VULNERABILITY ON DISPLAY…….ALCOHOLISM. BUT THERE IS A FINE LINE, FOR THE VOYEUR, AS TO WHETHER IT IS WRONG TO WATCH, AS IT IS A TRAGIC CIRCUMSTANCE UNFOLDING, OR ON THE OTHER HAND, AN IMPORTANT STUDY, OF THE CURRENT EVENTS IN A COMMUNITY'S LIFE AND TIMES. I WAS BOTH A FLEDGLING REPORTER AND HISTORIAN BY THE TIME I WAS FIFTEEN.

     IT DIDN'T BEGIN WITH MY YOUTH. NEAT STUFF WAS GOING ON FOR DECADES, THAT NEVER MADE IT TO PRINT. YET IT WAS THE SEED OF LEGEND. FOR EXAMPLE, MY OLD GARDENING FRIEND, BILL ANDISON, OF BRACEBRIDGE, USED TO TELL THE HOSPITAL COFFEE-TIME GANG, ABOUT HIS YOUTHFUL EXPLOITS. BILL WAS PROBABLY WELL INTO HIS SEVENTIES, WHEN HE WORKED AS THE GROUNDSKEEPER AT SOUTH MUSKOKA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL. I WAS ON THE PAINTING CREW, AND WE MET UP AT COFFEE-TIME. WHEN BILL STARTED TALKING ABOUT HIS FARM DAYS, OUT IN THE PURBROOK VICINITY, ON THE FRASERBURG ROAD, HE'D HAVE US SPEWING COFFEE THROUGH OUR NOSES. THERE WOULD BE FOLKS LIKE FRANK HENRY, THE HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR, KEN DAWSON, JACK HIGH, GEORGE JACKSON AND FRANK LOVELOCK, WITH "WILLY" RECALLING HIS BOYHOOD PRANKS. THE DAY HE TOLD US ABOUT THE QUEEN'S HILL SLING-SHOT CAPER, WAS HIS BEST PERFORMANCE. HE REMINISCED, REGARDING THE PLAN OF HIS LITTLE GROUP OF RASCALS, HIDING OUT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL, AT THE OLD THOMAS STREET INTERSECTION WITH MANITOBA STREET; HAND-MADE SLING-SHOTS READY TO FIRE. WAITING PATIENTLY FOR THE HORSE-DRAWN MILK WAGON, TO PULL AROUND THE CORNER. IT WAS THE WAY WILLY TOLD THE STORY THAT HAD US IN STITCHES. HOW CAREFULLY THE LADS POSITIONED THEMSELVES, AND CAREFULLY THEY TARGETED THE HORSE'S ASS, FOR A GOOD, STINGING SHOT. IT WAS WHEN HE WAS DESCRIBING THE HORSE REARING-UP, AND THE MILK CANS, FROTHING MILK AND DRIVER TUMBLING BACKWARDS DOWN THE QUEEN'S HILL, THAT TOOK THE CAKE. HE WAS A TERRIFIC STORY TELLER. NOW IT WASN'T THE CASE WE DIDN'T FIND THE PRANK NASTY AND DANGEROUS, BECAUSE WE DID. HISTORY AFFORDED US A LITTLE WIGGLE ROOM ON THIS, AND CONSIDERING HE DID FEEL A LITTLE REMORSE AT HAVING TAKEN DOWN MANY DELIVERY WAGONS THE SAME WAY, WE JUST AGREED "BOYS WILL BE BOYS!" IT WAS THE KIND OF HISTORICAL REVELATION, THAT IS PART OF OUR HISTORY BUT SELDOM IF EVER DOCUMENTED. IT WAS IMPORTANT. IT WAS PART OF OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE. IT DID FALL UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF A MUNICIPAL COUNCIL AT THE TIME, AND A TASK FOR THE LOCAL CONSTABLES, BUT AS WILLY WAS FLEET-FOOTED ENOUGH, HE GOT YELLED AT, BUT NEVER APPREHENDED.

     I COULDN'T HAVE REALLY EXPLAINED ACCURATELY, OR BELIEVABLY, THAT EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL IN THIS TOWN, OR ANOTHER PLACE, BECOMES PART OF THE LEGACY; PART OF THE HISTORY, WRITTEN AND UNWRITTEN, AND OF THIS FACT, THEY SHOULD BE AWARE AND PROUD…..AND YES, THIS DOES INCLUDE SITUATIONS THAT WERE BY ALL ACCOUNTS COMEDIC, JOVIAL, PRANKSTERISM, AND THE SOMEWHAT LESS THAN SERIOUS. YOU WILL NEVER KNOW EVERYTHING IMPORTANT ABOUT COMMUNITY HISTORY BY READING BOOKS ALONE. IT'S THE PERSONAL TOUCH THAT FILLS IN THESE GAPS. SO THE MUNICIPAL ACT FALLS SHORT, OF EXPLAINING JUST WHAT A COUNCILLOR IS INHERITING, WHEN THEY ASSUME THE CHAIN OF OFFICE, AFTER A SUCCESSFUL BID FOR ELECTION. TO UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY, IT ALL COUNTS. THE TWINKLE IN THE EYE OF OLDTIMERS, MEANS SOMETHING. SOMETIMES MUCH MORE THAN YOU KNOW.  SO IT DOES PAY OFF TO LEARN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO REPRESENT. WHAT LURKS IN THE SHADOWS? I'VE KNOW SOME CITIZENS OF OUR SOUTH MUSKOKA COMMUNITIES, WHO SPENT A LIFETIME IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS WITHOUT CONTRIBUTING A DARN THING, EXCEPT THE BUSINESS OF THEIR OWN DAY TO DAY LIVES. HEY, WHATEVER TURNS YOU ON! I'VE MET MANY COUNCILLORS OVER THE YEARS, WHO GOT NOTHING OUT OF THE EXPERIENCE OF REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE, OTHER THAN A PAY CHEQUE. THEY COULD HAVE DONE ANY OTHER JOB, BUT THEY WANTED TO BE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL. WHAT DOES THIS SERVE? PERSONAL GRATIFICATION? A FEW BUCKS, HARDLY WORTH THE HASSLE, OF GETTING CALLED ALL TIMES OF DAY AND NIGHT. ON THE OTHER HAND, I'VE MET FOLKS, AND TOWN COUNCILLORS, WHO WERE GENUINELY ENRICHED, BECAUSE OF THEIR IMMERSION IN HISTORY-MAKING. NOT JUST MAKING HEADLINES. BUT ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE FABRIC AND WELL BEING OF THE PLACE WE CALL HOME.

EXPERIENCING THE CITIZENRY ISN'T LISTED AS PART OF AN ELECTED OFFICIAL'S JOB - BUT ONCE YOU TRY IT, YOU WON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO COMPLACENCY!!!

     If I had sat my candidate friend down, and tried to explain the social / cultural history of Gravenhurst, I would have failed because of its complexity…..and well, its peculiarities, like any town on the good old earth. Nothing is quite as it seems. The people this councillor would come to represent, may have come from pioneer stock, and have been responsible for, "the way we are" today. In the mix of constituents are business folks, industrialists, nurses, doctors, waitresses, janitors, contractors, those who build and those who demolish, teachers, landscapers, and maybe even a candlestick maker. There are citizens who may claim to have been previously abducted by aliens, those who have seen ghosts, fairies in midnight revels, gremlins living under their porch, and may have witnessed werewolves bounding across the moor in the late autumn. And there are artists, craftspeople, poets and journalists. Authors and musicians, philosophers and the clairvoyant. There are people who believe, and those who don't believe much of anything. In the mix are adventurers and explorers, hikers and canoeists, mountain-climbers and those who enjoy the thrill of jumping from planes, and off cliffsides, with chutes and safety cords of course. Cyclists and joggers, walkers and dancers. Drinkers and abstainers, and a whole lot of youth. There are characters who have too much fun, and those who by their own admission, seldom have fun at all. Hundreds of folks volunteer to help others. Some can't help themselves. A lot of citizens are well-off financially. Quite a few do without. There are the happy, and there are the desolate, who have little hope of seeing a sunrise for what it should be……the start of a bright new day.

     How would I have, in a limited time, explained to this council hopeful, what should be obvious, to any resident, council candidate, John or Jane Q. Citizen? Would I have insulted this individual, suggesting that this perception of community had evaded her previously? It's easier to write about it, than to explain something like this. And why I believe, subtle heritage is forgotten by some, who do find themselves as our community's representative. There is a very real danger, you see, of de-sensitizing to the character realities, and personal circumstances of the constituency, when the oath of office is recited, and the Municipal Act frames what happens from that point. It happens with all levels of government. And it is always wrong. Especially when there's a choice that can be made. To dive a little deeper into the dark, still pool.

   If for example, you were having a little fun baseball game, and you had to pick from a crowd of constituents, who would be playing on your team. The selection process, while always uncomfortable, narrows the view down to persons of interest. Suddenly what appeared as a block of constituents, comes down to individual participants from which to build a competitive team. Captains make choices, based on insight of potential. Even the person who may not make a great athletic contribution, may be terrific at motivating the squad. Someone else might not be able to catch the ball, but sure can make the rest of the team laugh. In the blend of humanity, are those proficient at hitting, running and catching. Just as there are individuals who could craft a new ball glove, out of leather, turn a new bat, wire-up the backstop, build the bleachers, and make really good sandwiches. The fun and magic of it all, is that we are interesting as individuals, but we sure make a hell of a team. The true human dynamic of community. Maybe some critics find us here in Gravenhurst a little "Mayberry-esque," and the wise-acres amongst us, might shoot back at Bracebridge, as being a little "Bugtustle" like, and Huntsville more eerily similar to Hollywood's "Hooterville." It's what I like about living in a small rural community. It's the characters…the individuals who give us the color, the municipal handbook doesn't identify or apply.

     I don't define any town by either its business community, or the property owners, and their stake in the local ratepayers association. I do define it by the citizenry at large. Those who don't own property but happily reside in our community. These are the folks most often overlooked when it comes to council representation. They aren't seen in the same way, as ratepayers, who as a group, are somewhat feared for what power they might be able to exercise. As for renters and those who dwell in those accommodations, they don't have a representative group, to lobby for them, or apply pressure when needed. In the recent debate over how to spend the Terrence Haight bequeath, for example, ratepayers were indicated, as a group that had participated somewhat, in the process to find a suitable investment for the million dollars. There was no mention, at least in the newspaper article I read, that constituents (the general public) were invited to join the discussion. I remember blurting out to myself (as there was no one else home here at Birch Hollow), "does this town council believe they only represent the rights of property owners?" Believe me, this is a common situation, and not just in our municipality. As the bequeath was given to the Town of Gravenhurst, and the town council to invest, the implication is fairly clear, in legal terms, and that means all citizens of this fine burg are partners in how the kind inheritance is spent. They might not like the connotation of this news, but it doesn't change a thing. Councillors and ratepayers are not the end-all, in this community-building-thing we've had going, since the late 1850's. Remember a paragraph or so ago, when we were picking that philosophical baseball team. Well, it was made up of all constituents, not just land owners and select popular others. So when I get all hot and bothered about this protocol shortfall, this is the reason. The neglect our elected officials occasionally show, toward residents, because of their perceived modest stake in the community, is always regrettable.  Being a resident, means you've got fundamental rights in the community.  A lot of community builders, professionals and leaders in this town, didn't own an inch of property. It would be much to our disadvantage, if they had lived somewhere else.

     Maybe it wasn't intentional. I would like to believe this, and when the matter comes to a vote, next Tuesday, at town hall, what a great victory it would be, for all of us in this grand mix of humanity, if a previous decision to invest the money, to pay-down the municipal debt, was deferred, and cancelled all together. Not because of protest, but because of heartfelt reflection, that what was given as a memorial to help the community, will be used as an investment fountain, producing interest, in perpetuity, to assist citizens and citizen initiatives. How often do you inherit a million dollars? How often does a community inherit a million dollars? It's a pretty unique circumstance, and God Bless Terrence Haight, for providing this vast resource to help our town.

   

IN A CRISIS, WILL WE COME TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON GOOD

     Even in the emergency planning manual, and all the training in these matters, undertaken by first responders, nothing really prepares a community for a crisis, where all capable individuals are required to participate. Sometimes when we mistakenly assume ratepayers and the commercial sector is "the community," an event pops up, as nature likes to impose, and all citizens become characteristically relevant. Such was the case with the most recent tornado, that hit several neighborhoods of our town. "Our Town," said it all. Residents came out to help where they could, and however they could, whether they were ratepayers, or residents. There was no distinction made, or badges worn, to show degrees of citizenship. Folks pitched-in to help neighbors. Introductions and handshakes of thanks, were being expressed all over the affected area, and our family was amongst the mix of activated citizenry. It was remarkable to see. Comforting to know how we reacted as a town, to this misfortune of nature's fury. It could have been so much worse. This is what you have to think about, before running for election, to represent all these residents……that some day, some time in the future, we are going to need everyone's help to deal with disaster.

     While there is probably a subsection of the manual that deals with mobilization details, for citizens, it still requires the leadership skills of those we put in charge. While I didn't wish to impose all my concerns, at one time, on my candidate friend, I'm sure she understood the implications of council leadership, in good times and during adversity. If you think about the joyless task of running the town during two World Wars, and a Great Depression, and through all the turbulence of recessions, and Cold War, today's responsibilities seem so much more mundane and achievable with lesser stress. Maybe I'm wrong about this. Possibly if we took this present council back, to the Depression Years, and asked them to guide us all safely through the economic quagmire. While still supplying basic municipal services, and feeding the unemployed and homeless, plus all those who came through our town riding the rails, huddled in the backs of trucks and on foot. How would they have interpreted and governed, by bylaw, the parade of hobos, and those residences where they were invited to stop for a hot meal…..located as a "friendly stop" by a simple decoration on a fencepost, or by word of mouth? Would they have found anything in a municipal code of conduct book, or would they have to improvise a plan. As with any disaster, and misfortune, there is a necessity to react accordingly; and that may again involve the community, as it always has, coming together as individuals, to create a team to fight back. Think of how many citizens contributed to the war effort, but never left home? Do you have any idea how many socks, hats, mitts, and apparel items were knit here for soldiers overseas? How many hundreds of fundraisers were held to help the war effort? To feed the poor? To help families down on their luck? I can forgive municipal representatives for occasionally forgetting the lessons of history. I can appreciate how difficult it can be, to deal with pressing contemporary issues, and balance the interests of the future, with present depleted budgets. But whatever councillors think of their stresses at present, it is of course, a tradition of the job…..that has a beginning with an election victory, but has no real end. I know many retired councillors, who are still as active now as they once were, trying to help our community on its way.

     The civilized world today is in a fragile state. Almost daily we have to carry on our lives, after hearing about the strife of war, and the desolation of economic collapse. Starvation, the spread of disease, environmental and natural calamities, such as earthquakes and drought. The present civil war in Syria may be one of the most volatile situations since the Second World War, because of the very real possibility, of it drawing in major world powers, to a regional conflict. If you've wondered why the international community is watching the carnage and brutality occur, it's because of the stance of nuclear-armed nations. There's an awful lot to lose, with a political error in judgement. While it seems so unlikely, that a Euro-zone economic problem or war in Syria, can hurt us here in beautiful South Muskoka, those of us who've been around a while, know perfectly well the ripple-effect of bad things happening elsewhere. And if we were faced with a serious and dangerous world crisis, affecting us at home, how would the elected officials respond, to their newly advanced role in office, as our protectors. It's really what I wanted to ask my candidate friend. If it came to such a terrible turn of events, how would she feel being at the helm of a community in crisis? You can't pick and choose about these events, having won a term of office. I think I can answer my own question.

     Council would do what it's supposed to do……..enlist the help of residents.

     Thank you so much for visiting today's blog. Please visit again soon.