Ottawa Sun
Published: Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Advice for candidates: Council hopefuls ... who are you and what will you do?

The election is in full gear, but most council races are uninspiring affairs.  In watching several cable TV debates, a total package candidate, who, “gets it,” is yet to emerge.  So here is the speech I would love to hear.

My name is Joe/Jane Candidate and I’m seeking the privilege to serve and represent the interests and aspirations of the residents of XXXXX ward on city council. If I’m fortunate to earn your trust, here’s how I’ll conduct myself City Hall.

I will work constructively with the mayor and my council colleagues on each file. I will check my ego and party colours at the door when dealing with the local MPP and MP; we all serve the same constituents. I will stand on principle, but not stumble on pettiness.

There will be hundreds of votes during my 1,461 days in office and not all — despite my efforts — will favour the collective interest of our ward.  Such is the nature of democracy; but I will not storm out of the chamber, sulk in a chair or blame colleagues.  Instead, I will accept it and move on to the next item or issue. 

My job title is city councillor and I will act as such, not as a ward boss. 

I will do my homework and show up to each meeting, debate or public event prepared to contribute. When I don’t know something, I’ll simply say so as opposed to flubbing my way through and telling you what you want to hear. 

I will fully learn the official plan and understand how its principles, transportation objectives and infrastructure plans drive our annual city budget — both operational and capital.  I will focus budget discussions on big line items like compensation, transit and transportation and emergency services. 

I will do everything in my power to convince council to negotiate stable and affordable — inflationary increases or below — multi-year funding agreements for our arts, cultural, public health and recreation partners in the community. The annual beg-a-thon, crisis exercise that we put these groups through for a rounding error of the city’s $2.5-billion budget is disgraceful.

I will hire a great staff team to work with me on the daily issues ward residents encounter. Yes, I will hold city staff accountable for executing on council direction, but no, I will not treat them as a contemptible government and act as the official opposition as is often the case now.

My vision is of a safe, prosperous, dynamic and well-managed city. Each and every time you see the City of Ottawa logo on a bus, truck, building, snowplough, etc., I want citizens to feel and know that they’re getting the best value for their hard earned tax dollars, bar none. 

I will work tirelessly on your behalf and log 60-plus hour weeks. But I will not work 80-hour weeks to the point of exhaustion; it’s unhealthy and dangerous. It results in a loss of perspective on family, health and ignores the need to reflect and recharge. Exhausted politicians make bad decisions and say dumb things; I plan to make good decisions and speak intelligently on the issues. 

This is who I am and how I hope to serve you.