So the current Mayor is resigning shortly. And might you be convinced to enter the race?

1. The first question you have to ask is why Mayor Davis publicly expressed that the job is so negative, fraught with harassment and vitriol. Come to think of it, that sounds awfully familiar from comments by a previous Mayor, Friel.

Let’s go back over the past few years in Brantford politics and look at the voter apathy for political leadership even at all three levels of government. Generally, given the total population and the percentage of voters it seems to hover around 25%-30% or as low as  one-in-four  constituents exercising their will overall and the percentage attributed to individual candidates is divided from there. With less than one-in-five true supporters, good will is diluted before taking office.

-A few Councillors and most School Board Trustees elected similarly usually mount a more serious constituent support than many of the civic municipal leaders.

-That seems not uncommon in local politics, sad, but a sign of the times. So this question of anger and vitriol apparently comes from a vocal minority.

-Added to this mix is the influence of social media. The populist fervour frequently is not aware of details behind decisions or suspect a lack of transparency they might feel.

-The increased model of a litigious constituency battles public officials in both judicial courts and the court of public opinion. This is more an American model but it is seeping north.

-It is given that provincial and federal elections are run on a partisan model. Not officially so for municipal offices, although you can see the colours of partisanship-mantling decision making these days, denied but apparent.

2. Second, you might want to change the dynamic of civic politics based on your grievances or ideologies.

The reality of municipal politics in Brantford used to be, ‘The Rule of Six’. With eleven separate votes including the mayor, it takes a majority, six votes, to achieve any direction. There have been occasions where votes have been accumulated to achieve ‘The Six’ and sometimes they agreed to hold the majority ground for political strength. Sometimes the occasional Councillor would demand clear explanations and specific outcomes and barter their amendments to achieve the majority. Or the majority would shift to a different ‘Six’ in protest. That is politics, but does it serve the population needs? Sadly not always.

NOTE: The Province of Ontario has created a new municipal category, ‘Super Mayor’ and Brantford is one community so designated. It means the Mayor has special authority if he/she chooses. The Mayor can draft bylaws and with only one-third of Council support and it becomes legislation without oversight or legal challenge. Also, the Mayor can hire or replace senior leadership positions with no explanation, oversight or accountability. It hasn’t been abused to date and therefore never tested in Brantford yet.

-Let’s assume a current Councillor is the successful Mayoral candidate. That would trigger another vote to replace their Council previous position. Ostensibly, that could change the force du jour and create new opinions and common sense deliberations. BUT… It’s an 18 month gig and then it starts over again. How could a newbie get up to speed and influence change in that short time?

-What changes are already locked in? Budget is already struck, taxes determined and basically carries over the remaining time. Promises made for long term municipal projects like the Hospital or the Bull Dogs new arena have been launched although no one is sure that future circumstances can guarantee both being successful even using revenue generated by the casino that can’t go that high as legacy projects (revenue from Casino coffers) over the next term or two.

-Infrastructure development including water, sewers, roads and services depend on a variety of revenue sources like development fees and from residential construction fees. They are ultimately paid for against the future tax base of all Brantford as capital expenses.

-We caught a break with S. C. Johnson at the last minute to save part of our industrial base, but other investors are going away as our available land base is disappearing. so who pays the piper for new projects except the taxpayers and that’s a double edge sword as the less options we have to create revenue, the more homeowners will be expected to pay up for change promised.

-That north side of Powerline Road is ripe for investment, and except of the city owned Spierenberg lands, everything else is already owned by developers. However, there is insufficient infrastructure like water sources and sewage removal, and that can’t accommodate growth.

-We do have a new dog park where there used to be a municipal golf course. Good luck on reversing that.

-Costco finally overcame incredible hurdles but now the Mom and Pop businesses need attention to that competition. Do you have credible plans to address just these issues?

3. Finally, the money’s not alluring, even for a designated ‘Super Mayor’. Add up the Meetings of Council, Committee of the Whole meetings, In-Camera Meetings, other meetings for Economic Development, Planning, Budget, Social Services Transit, Downtown Development, Police Services, Parks and Rec, senior leadership, Caucus sessions on a variety of issues… (these are a few of the in-house stuff expected). Then there are responsibilities for delegations to the mayor’s office, safety and security concerns, emergency planning, disaster mitigation, river flooding, water protection, by-law development, strategic planning, governance, real estate and infrastructure as on-going fiscal responsibility. Then there are the partnerships with other municipalities, the province and the feds including conferences at Queens Park or Parliament Hill, Municipal Mayor’s Council, Service Clubs and Chamber of Commerce just to add to the workload. I haven’t even begun with store openings, somber celebrations of life, elite sports recognition, flag raising celebrations, seasonal holiday events, sports events, music events, art events, neighbourhood association events, baby kissing and and hand shaking daily. Oh and Human Resource and Public Communication responses if they ever surface. Somewhere in there is family life, medical emergencies and a wistful holiday every now and then.

So I ask again, WHY!

Yet if no one has the strength or steel spine, what are the consequences of NOT having a Mayor? And there is the nut in the avocado. If you find someone to commit to the above, show through common sense and realistic fiduciary objectives, committing the work to gain back the trust of the community, he/she would become a blessing to our humanity. Find that person and become his/her advocate for the next five and a half years.

(Ed. Note) How can anyone assure Brantfordians whomever is elected is willing to put principles over politics?