The intent of the candidates information meeting hosted by Wellington County’s municipalities on April 24 in Aboyne was to provide potential candidates in this fall’s October municipal election some insight into what it means to run and get elected as a local councillor.
Among the 75 who attended were current council members interested in seeing what an expert had to say about how councils function in the ever-changing realm of local politics.
I’ve covered enough councils over the past 30 years, but never have I attended or covered a candidate information meeting.
Municipal staff had brought in a real expert in the field in Fred Dean, a lawyer whose firm deals extensively in municipal matters. Dean is a speaker at many municipal conferences and his firm deals with municipal investigations.
He knows the “ins and outs” of municipal politics and, with his affable personality, infuses humour into what can be serious issues that befall an elected official or an entire council. His approach to talking about local politics was not lost on the crowd at the Aboyne meeting.
Dean’s first suggestion for those looking to run in the election was to attend a meeting of council. The only way to know how council works is to see it in action, he suggested. If you don’t attend a council meeting before you put your name on the candidate’s list, you should shake your head and stay put, was the message he put out.
When it comes to local politics – or what some big city politicians might term “small town politics” – practiced here in Wellington County, Dean suggested that if elected to council “your life will change.”
He basically advised those who are considering taking the next step that if elected they will find it is a 24-7 position that will impact them and their families for as long as they serve.
I’ve heard that same argument among councillors I’ve encountered and reported on during my career. I’ve also seen councillors who were really not suited to hold an elected position and wondered why voters ever elected them.
Dean also talked about changing provincial regulations that govern how local councils operate and how the changes are intended to make our councils more open and accountable.
Some of the regulations may be a bit heavy handed (outrageous, even), like the one stating that having a majority of councillors sitting in a vehicle going to a municipal convention can be construed as a functioning quorum.
Dean got some good solid questions, ranging from what constitutes a closed meeting to how council actions are policed to keep everything above board.
Dean also recommended all elected officials read every document they receive in council business to avoid any potential lawsuits that may come up should a serious incident occur.
Hopefully his advice will lead knowledgeable candidates to come forward, because I know from experience that covering a meeting with uninformed councillors is no fun.
There is too much at stake to have decisions made without due consideration.
