SUZANNE WON'T GIVE ME THE REGISTRATION FEE TO RUN FOR MUNICIPAL OFFICE - OF COURSE, I ALSO HAVEN'T ASKED FOR IT EITHER
THE WATERCOLOR PAINTING FEATURED ABOVE TODAY'S BLOG, IS ONE OF THE REASONS, AND PRIME EXAMPLES, OF WHY I CAN'T BE CONFINED; ANYWHERE, EVEN MY HOUSE, FOR LONG. LIKE THE WAY DAVE BROWN, MY BOOK COLLECTOR BUDDY LIVED, AND ARCHIVIST-ADVENTURER, HUGH MACMILLAN OPERATED, FOR MOST OF HIS LIFE; THE HUNT AND GATHER HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ADVENTURE THAT HAS COMPELLED US TO QUEST, SEEK-OUT, UNCOVER, DISCOVER AND RESCUE, UNTIL WE CAN QUEST NO MORE. THIS IS A WELL PAINTED, COMPETENTLY COMPOSED WATERCOLOR, THAT ALTHOUGH UNSIGNED, IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF WHAT A COLLECTOR CAN FIND OUT THERE ON THE HUSTINGS; HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF FAITH THAT TREASURES STILL SURFACE FROM TIME TO TIME, IN THE STRANGEST, AND MOST UNLIKELY PLACES. THIS IS A BORROWED CHAPTER FROM THE HUGH MACMILLAN BIOGRAPHY. NEVER GIVE UP SEARCHING FOR THE HOLY GRAIL. I THINK I MAY KNOW THE ARTIST OF THIS PORTRAIT, OF THE "READING" PIONEER LADY, AND I'M WILLING TO BET IT'S VICTORIAN ERA CANADIANA.
ON THE SUBJECT OF DAVE BROWN, AND MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. I WAS THINKING ABOUT DAVE A FEW MINUTES AGO, AND MY OWN INTERESTS IN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. DAVE, AN ACCOMPLISHED OUTDOOR EDUCATION TEACHER, IN HAMILTON, QUITE A FEW YEARS BACK, GOT MAD AT THE WAY THE ELECTED BOARD WAS HANDLING SCHOOL MANAGEMENT. HE THOUGHT HE COULD DO BETTER AS AN ELECTED BOARD MEMBER, THAN AS AN IN-THE-FIELD AND IN-THE-CLASSROOM INSTRUCTOR. DAVE WAS A POPULAR GUY AND WON THE NEXT ELECTION. AFTER OF COURSE, TAKING A LEAVE OF ABSENCE FROM HIS TEACHING JOB. IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE DAVE FOUND OUT, THAT HE COULDN'T CHANGE THE BOARD, HAVING ONLY ONE VOTE. HE FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO PULL OTHER BOARD MEMBERS ON SIDE, TO MOVE AHEAD SOME OF THIS PET PROJECTS, AND EVENTUALLY DECIDED THAT BEING AN ELECTED OFFICIAL HAD ITS INHERENT HAZARDS. IT WASN'T THE RIGHT PLACE, FOR A CHAP AS OPINIONATED AND STUBBORN AS HE WAS. HE FOUND HIMSELF MAD ALL THE TIME, INSTEAD OF JUST PART OF THE TIME. THUS, HE BECAME AN INEFFECTIVE BOARD MEMBER, AND SOON RESIGNED HIS SEAT, IN ORDER TO RETURN TO HIS DAY JOB. HE WAS A GREAT TEACHER AND WELL LOVED BY HIS STUDENTS AND COLLEAGUES. NOT SO MUCH AS A BOARD MEMBER. IT'S ANOTHER OF THE REASONS I AM OPTING OUT, OF AN EARLIER COMMITMENT, TO RUN FOR GRAVENHURST TOWN COUNCIL. "I'D HAVE TO BE NUTS," I CHORTLED TO MYSELF, HAVING RETURNED THIS MORNING, FROM A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL ANTIQUE HUNT; AND I'M GOING ON ANOTHER ONE, AS SOON AS I FINISH-UP TODAY'S BLOG. I'M HAPPIEST DOING MY THING, AND AT FIFTY-NINE, WITH ONE FOOT ON A BANANA PEEL," AS SUZANNE SAYS, THE LAST THING I NEED IS ANOTHER NAIL IN THE OLD COFFIN. I NEED MY FREEDOM TO ROAM AND HUSTLE OLD STUFF. NOT A COUNCIL TABLE THAT I WOULD BE BOUNCING MY HEAD OFF OF, IF FORCED TO SIT THERE FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR AT A TIME.
I'M NOT BLAMING MY PARTNER SUZANNE, FOR HER POSITION ON SUCH THINGS, AS RUNNING FOR POLITICAL OFFICE. SHE ENCOURAGES CITIZENS TO GET INVOLVED IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, AND LEAD THEIR HOMETOWN AND REGION TO GREAT PROSPERITY. AS LONG AS I'M NOT ONE OF THE CITIZENS SEEKING ELECTION. SHE'S VERY CLEAR ABOUT THIS, AND ALTHOUGH I KNOW THAT IF I PUT UP ENOUGH FUSS, WITH A SUBTLE AMOUNT OF ADULT TANTRUM, SHE MIGHT LOOK THE OTHER WAY, WHEN I GRAB A HUNDRED BUCKS, AND REGISTER AS A DISTRICT CANDIDATE HERE IN THE GRAVENNHURST MUNICIPAL ELECTION. SHE'S MADE A RULE HOWEVER, JUST IN CASE SHE CAN'T HOLD ME BACK. I WOULD BE GOING-IT ALONE. WHICH MEANS EITHER SHE WOULD LEAVE ME, AND GO BACK TO HER HOME VILLAGE OF WINDERMERE, OR ALLOW ME TO ANSWER ALL THE PHONE CALLS FROM IRATE TAXPAYERS MYSELF. YOU SEE, SHE KNOWS I HAVE A FEAR OF PHONES. THAT'S RIGHT. SNAKES, PLANES AND PHONES! IT GOES BACK TO MY NEWSPAPER DAYS, WHEN I'D BEEN THREATENED ROUTINELY BY UNHAPPY READERS, PISSED-OFF TO FIND THEIR KID'S NAME IN A FRONT PAGE NEWS STORY, FOR AN IMPAIRED DRIVING CHARGE, OR FOR A BREAK AND ENTER CONVICTION. I'VE BEEN THREATENED WITH DEATH, AND OTHER TORTURES, FOR PUBLISHING CRIME STORIES, SOME INVOLVING GANGS THAT FRANKLY, SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ALL OF US AT THE PAPER AND AT HOME. SUZANNE WANTED ME OUT OF THE NEWSPAPER BUSINESS, FOR THIS VERY REASON; THAT I WASN'T GETTING PAID ENOUGH TO STAND IN THE FIRING LINE, TO VALIDATE THE COMPANY POLICY, TO PRINT NAMES OF THE ACCUSED AND CONVICTED. IT WAS A SMALL TOWN, AND GETTING SMALLER, WHEN READERS GANGED-UP TO PROTEST A PUBLISHING POLICY; THAT I DIDN'T CREATE.
OVER THE YEARS WITH THE PAPER, I HATED TO ANSWER THE PHONE, BECAUSE IT WAS EITHER SOMEONE ANGRY ABOUT NOT GETTING THEIR PAPER IN THE MAIL, OR SOMEONE WHO WANTED ME TO WRITE A STORY ABOUT THEIR ABDUCTION BY ALIENS; AND WHAT THEY LEARNED ABOUT THE FULL BODY PROBES THEY CONDUCT ON THE MOTHER SHIP. I HAD FIVE READERS WHO CALLED ME ABOUT STORY IDEAS, AT LEAST TWO TIMES EVERY MONTH. ONE OF THE CALLERS WOULD TALK FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR, AND BECAUSE SHE WAS INFLUENTIAL IN THE COMMUNITY, AND KNOWN BY OUR OWNERSHIP, I HAD NO CHOICE BUT LISTEN. I COULD HAVE HANDLED IT BETTER, IF IT HAD BEEN WHILE I WAS AT THE NEWSPAPER OFFICE; BUT AT HOME, IT WAS QUITE INTRUSIVE. I WAS SHORT WITH HER ONCE, AND SHE LET OUR MANAGER KNOW I HAD CUT HER OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF A CONVERSATION. ANOTHER READER FELT COMPELLED TO WARN ME ABOUT THE LATEST CONSPIRACY THEORY, AND HOW PEOPLE WERE STEALING HER STUFF, OUT OF HER YARD AND HOUSE; YET WHEN SHE CONTACTED POLICE, NOTHING WAS EVER IDENTIFIED AS ACTUALLY MISSING. MISPLACED, MORE LIKE IT! SHE WAS DELUDED AND I WAS HER CHOICE OF WRITER, TO PUBLISH HER TALE OF WOE. EACH CALL WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, BUT I KNEW ENOUGH TO AVOID CONFRONTATION. SHE WAS ANOTHER WHO WOULD PHONE TO CANCEL HER SUBSCRIPTION, IF I DISMISSED HER PREMATURELY. I ESPECIALLY HATED THESE CALLS AT DINNER TIME. I HAD SO MANY INTERRUPTED DINNERS, IT BECAME A HOUSEHOLD JOKE, THAT I WAS FINE AS LONG AS I WAS STANDING. IF I WANTED A CALL, AT SUPPER HOUR, ALL I HAD TO DO WAS SIT IN FRONT OF A PLATE OF HOT FOOD, AND RING-A-DING-A-DING-ALING! IN MY LIFE, I HAVE UTTERED, "AH HA," A MILLION TIMES, AND "IS THAT RIGHT?" ANOTHER MILLION, IN CONVERSATIONS THAT WENT ROUND AND ROUND AND ROUND. THE ONLY WAY THESE CALLERS LET ME GO, IS WHEN THEIR OWN DINNER WAS READY, AND ON THE TABLE, OR THEY GOT BORED WITH MY VERY BASIC RESPONSES. "WELL, I BETTER LET YOU GO," WAS THE MAGIC SENTENCE I'D WAIT FOR, AND RETURN TO THE TABLE, WHERE A CAT WAS MOST LIKELY FINISHING THE REST OF MY HAMBURGER, BUT THANKFULLY, NOT THE FRIES.
WHY AM I TELLING YOU ALL THIS? BEING AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IN A MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, MEANS YOU'RE ON CALL TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY, WITH NO DAYS OFF. I HAD TO POINT THIS OUT TO A LOCAL COUNCILLOR, ONE DAY, WHO HADN'T REALLY THOUGHT IT WAS QUITE THAT BINDING; AS IT WAS AFTERALL, JUST A PART TIME JOB. I REMINDED HER THAT DISASTERS DON'T STICK TO A SCHEDULE, OR ONLY HAPPEN WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT FOR ALL PARTIES TO OCCUR. CONSIDER FOR EXAMPLE, LAST YEAR'S TRAIN DERAILMENT, EXPLOSION AND FIRE IN QUEBEC, THAT CLAIMED MANY TOWNSFOLK, AT A TIME WHEN CITIZENS WERE OUT AT LOCAL NIGHT-SPOTS, AND OTHERS WERE EITHER IN BED, OR GETTING READY TO RETIRE FOR THE NIGHT. IT'S THE KIND OF DISASTER THAT CAN HAPPEN TO ANY NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE DEMANDS FULL TOWN COUNCIL PARTICIPATION. SO WHEN IT COMES TO A NEIGHBORHOOD CRISIS, WHETHER A STORM SITUATION, OR A BROKEN WATER MAIN, THAT DAMAGES PROPERTY, COUNCILLORS MAY BE CALLED IN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS OF RESTORING ORDER, AND SETTING ABOUT TO DETERMINE THE BEST STEPS TO MITIGATE FURTHER DAMAGE. THEREFORE, A COUNCILLOR SHOULD EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED. LOTS AND LOTS OF PHONE CALLS, AND CRIES FOR URGENT ATTENTION. I DON'T BLAME ANY CONSTITUENT FOR CALLING THEIR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE, EVEN LATE AT NIGHT, BECAUSE IT'S PART OF THEIR JOB, AS ELECTED GOVERNANCE, TO MAKE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE. IT CAN AND DOES GET OUT OF HAND. I'M SURE VETERAN COUNCILLORS CAN ATTEST TO THE NUMBER OF CRANK CALLS, AND THREATS THEY'VE RECEIVED, AND HOW UNSETTLING THEY CAN BE TO THEIR HOUSEHOLD. WITH THIS BLOG, IF THEY DON'T LIKE WHAT THEY READ, THEY CAN ALWAYS SWITCH THE CHANNEL. DOING THE SAME THING TO A CONSTITUENT (CUTTING OFF) CAN LAND A COUNCILLOR IN LEGAL HOT-WATER, WITH A LOT OF NEGATIVE PUBLICITY, IF THE SAME RESIDENT WAS TO WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR, OR POST AN UNFLATTERING TWITTER COMMENT; OR LAUNCH A STORY IN THE LOCAL MEDIA, TO BE FOLLOWED UP BY A REPORTER'S CALL OR VISIT. SOME TERMS OF OFFICE ARE CALMER THAN OTHERS. IN MY OPINION, GRAVENHURST, DESPITE WHAT SOME COUNCILLORS MAY BELIEVE TO THE CONTRARY, HAS HAD A PRETTY CALM FOUR YEAR TERM, OTHER THAN THE FIRST SEVEN MONTHS OF THE FIRST YEAR, AND EVEN THEN, THE ISSUE WITH THE RECREATION CENTRE RE-CONSTRUCTION, WAS REALLY CARRY-OVER BUSINESS, FROM THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL. AS I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT PREVIOUSLY, WHAT I SEE COMING IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, WILL CURL A COUNCILLOR'S TOES UPWARDS. THE PENDING SALE OF THE FORMER MUSKOKA CENTRE PROPERTY FOR STARTERS. THIS IS A MONSTER ISSUE, THAT WILL HAVE A LOT OF OPPOSITION, EVEN IF AT A FAR REACH, IT WAS LEFT UNTOUCHED AND TURNED INTO OPEN PARKLAND. I'VE COVERED THESE STORIES BEFORE, AND THE STRIKING DIFFERENCE HERE, IS THAT THIS IS MUCH MORE DESIRABLE PROPERTY ON THE LAKE, THAN WAS THE ROSENEATH HOTEL RE-DEVELOPMENT SITE AT BEAUMARIS. I THINK MANY OF THOSE RUNNING FOR COUNCIL AS FIRST-TIMERS, HAVE NO IDEA HOW DAMNING THIS COULD BE, DEPENDING ON THE PROCESS INITIATED BY THE PROVINCE. I THINK THERE ARE EXISTING COUNCILLORS WHO HAVEN'T GOT A CLUE HOW UGLY THIS MIGHT BECOME, WITH THE RIGHT CONDITIONS. WHAT THEY SHOULD BE LOOKING AT, IS WHAT THE BALA FALLS PROJECT HAS CAUSED IN PUBLIC AND MUNICIPAL CONFLICT, AND THINK ABOUT THE "WHAT IFS" FOR THE MUSKOKA CENTRE PROPERTY, AND POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS THAT MIGHT COME DOWN THE PIKE; REAL SOON NOW! TALK ABOUT PHONES RINGING OFF THE HOOK. WELL, THEY'LL EVEN BE RINGING CELL PHONES RIGHT OUT OF PANTS AND PURSES. IT ISN'T TO SUGGEST THAT THIS IS OUT OF THE ORDINARY, FOR WHAT COUNCILLORS COULD FACE BY JOB DESCRIPTION, AT ANY TIME; BUT A SERIOUS REFLECTION ON THE BURDEN THAT IS WAITING OUT THERE, LOOKING FOR SOMEONE'S SHOULDERS TO LAND ON.
AS FOR ME, I SAID FROM EARLY IN THE SPRING, THAT I COULD NOT LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY, KNOWING THAT A MAYOR OR ANY COUNCIL SEAT I WAS ELIGIBLE TO RUN FOR, HAD BEEN HANDED OVER AS AN ACCLAMATION; MEANING THERE WAS ONLY ONE CANDIDATE, AND NO RUN-OFF WAS NECESSARY. WELL, THERE ARE NOW TWO CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR, AND FOR MY WARD AND THE DISTRICT SEATS (OF WHICH THREE ARE TO BE ELECTED), THERE IS A COMPETITION. NOT BIG ONES, BUT NO ACCLAMATIONS. NO CORONATION FOR MAYOR. IT MAY NOT BE THE PERFECT SLATE OF CANDIDATES, BUT AT LEAST THE COUNCIL SEAT WINNERS WILL BE DETERMINED BY CONSTITUENTS. WHILE I'D LIKE TO SEE FIVE OR SIX CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR, IT WILL COME DOWN TO THE LAST DAY, AND THE LAST HOUR (FRIDAY) TO DETERMINE THE FIELD. THERE'S STILL TIME, IN CASE YOU'RE INTERESTED.
POINT IS, A SECOND COMPETITOR FOR MAYOR GOT ME OFF THE HOOK. I HAD SAID, THAT IF THERE WAS AN ACCLAMATION LOOMING, THAT BEFORE THE REGISTRATIONS WERE CLOSED, ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH, I WOULD LAY DOWN MY TWO HUNDRED DOLLAR FEE, AND TAKE MY CHANCES ON BECOMING MAYOR. SO THANK GOD FOR DEMOCRACY IN ACTION. I WOULD HAVE BECOME THE FIRST MAYOR IN THE HISTORY OF GRAVENHURST, WHO HAD TO BE WRESTLED, AND HAULED INTO THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, WHERE MY FELLOW COUNCILLORS WOULD HAVE BEEN FORCED TO RESTRAIN ME, IN ORDER TO GET THE CHAIN OF OFFICE OVER MY HEAD. OF COURSE I'M CHIPPER AND A LITTLE BIT COCKY. AND I WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A SINGLE CONSTITUENT PHONE CALL DURING THE DINNER HOUR. I LIKE MY NEIGHBOR CONSTITUENTS, JUST NOT WHEN THEY'VE BITCHING ABOUT MY INEFFICIENCIES WHICH I HAVE ALWAYS FULLY ADMITTED ANYWAY.
ALWAYS WILLING TO LEND A HAND - SOME HISTORICAL PRECEDENTS, AND SAGE ADVICE
Soon after the last municipal election, when the good mayor of the Town of Gravenhurst, advertised for volunteers to sit on her Mayor's Advisory Committee, I immediately submitted my name. Of course, seeing my name on the list of applicants, was probably a wee bit unexpected, and possibly undesired, because of my fight the previous year, with the municipality, trying to save the neighborhood wetland, we call "The Bog." Suzanne and I spearheaded opposition to the municipality's plan to sell off the boglands, as surplus municipal holdings, to sell eventually as residential lots. We mounted a relentless fight to save the wetland, and with some assistance from the former ratepayers association, many concerned citizens in Gravenhurst, beyond the neighborhood, and promises of help from groups like the Muskoka Bay Cottagers Association, the town changed their collective mind, and killed the concept after less than two full months on the agenda. We fought long and hard, and it ruined most of that year's summer season. Destroying that beautiful wetland would have forced Suzanne and I to move away from Gravenhurst; that's how strongly we felt, about what these councillors were planning to enact, from a council table. Most of the same councillors had never seen the bog up close, yet they were prepared to consider it surplus land. A few councillors considered us, specifically me, "ulcer causing." I've been called a lot of things in my life, but never before, had I been considered annoying enough, to cause ulcers. Well, I'm sorry they felt this way, but we had heartburn as well; thinking that we would lose such an important, however small, wetland, full of wildlife, and filtering qualities, for urban area water drainage, before draining into Muskoka Bay. We're pretty supportive of our town, but in this case, we were shocked by how this turn of events transpired. So in the aftermath, I decided to take my ulcer-causing abstinence, and turn it into something more compatible with town council. I have a fair bit of experience dealing with the municipalities of Muskoka, and well, it seemed like a good idea at the time, to shave some of the perceived negativity away, and reveal the real Ted Currie, who wants to see our hometown do well on all fronts.
Well, I carried some baggage into this forum, and I never got the chance to advise the mayor. I suppose it was the case, that I'd worn out my welcome with returning councillors, before they even took the oath of office. Maybe I was seen as a lobbyist, trying to get inside to manipulate gains for myself and family. I don't have a track record of this, but I can understand their fear of the unknown. What might I offer up as advice to the new mayor? I don't know, because I never got the chance to chat with the mayor to determine our compatibility. I did let the mayor know, that I would suspend my blog, if I was selected for the committee, to avoid any perception, or otherwise, that I was reporting from the inside. Not my style. I have worked in public relations for some pretty strict bosses, and I know how to relate to the media in all kinds of circumstances.
When the new council begins its four year term, later this year, I will once again offer my name, for consideration, to sit on the Mayor's Advisory Committee; not for inside gains, but because I enjoy being involved in municipal politics from a civilian point of view. You never know when a former newspaper reporter, editor, writer, not to mention historian, might come in handy, on-side, as an advisor. The same deal will be extended. As an advisor, I would drop the blog, to avoid any potential for conflict, or on the other hand, writing about what goes on behind the scenes at Town Hall. If they they still look at me, as the enemy, or someone who can't be trusted, I will satisfy myself instead, with being the best citizen I can be, outside the loop. No hurt feelings on my part.
I wish there were more candidates running in this election. I have some concerns about experience, and business savvy, in the body of council hopefuls, and how they are going to manage a multi-million dollar corporation, that keeps constituents happy, and not overwhelmed by tax burden. We want them to serve the best interests of our town, and find elusive prosperity out there, to share with one and all. Shoot for Utopia. Be prepared for the pleasant prosperity of Bedford Falls (It's A Wonderful Life). It will be a more productive, approachable town council, without me occupying one of those council seats. I hate being confined, and I would have been a hobo, if it wasn't for Suzanne's lemon chicken, that lured me indoors way back when; the days I used to hang out at her side door looking for any affection, but mostly food scraps. As an advisor to council, I think I could put some critiques in perspective, and prove more of an asset than an ass - as some elected officials view me as a blogger.
Thanks so much for joining me today. If you have four years to spare, why don't you consider running for town council. If you're one of my readers from way out of town, well, consider running in your municipality. If you're a reader from England, or Alaska, or The Ukraine, hey, just get involved where you can. See you again soon.
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