So what does make a good candidate? Is it humility, critical thinking skills, honesty, empathy, learning ability, integrity, being independent, or communication skills(listening being the most important)?
Or is it a law degree, high IQ, wealth, the ability to speak well, relationships with powerful people, an encyclopedic knowledge of public policy, business experience, a background in government service, or a forceful personalty?
It turns out that maybe it is almost none of the above. I did some asking around of some engaged, local, political, personalities and the most common theme seemed to be "being independent."
It would take some research but, by checking out the 'incumbent' candidates records on how they stood and how they voted on issues, should tell you if they stuck to their positions and were truly 'independent'.
As far as new candidates are concerned, you can really only go by what they say.
Most candidates have websites and those who don't will have a contact e.mail address.
City Candidates
District Candidates
17 comments:
Education/training in public or business adminstration plus many years of demonstrated competence in a senior position administering more than, at least, 100 unionized staff and responsible for a budget of, at least, $5 million.
Our councillors have authority over hundreds of staff and at least $50 million in annual budget or much more.
They should have considerable administrative education and experience. Just because you've ridden in an airplane doesn't mean that you can fly it.
You hire civil servants to be the person you envision. You vote in someone like Pam Bookham to represent the people and keep an eye on the "experts"
You vote in experts so that they have the skills to assess and lead the organization.
When you vote in amateurs to be leaders you get amateurish leadership.
"An expert is one who knows more and more about less and less until he knows absolutely everything about nothing."
One of Murphy's Laws
Given the breadth of municipal issues an 'expert' could well find themselves useless in all but their 'area of subject matter expertise'.
Homilies are great but rather trite.
I prefer a candidate with a proven track record of successfully leading a complex and diverse organization.
The other Anon seems to prefer the enthusiatic amateur full of good intentions.
Each to their own.
A good candidate is one who can put aside his/her own wants, working for the good of the community as a whole, even if it means not being able to pursue one's own want.
Many so-called "bad" politicians tend to be very biased in favour of their own pet project(s) at any cost. This does not always benefit the whole community, but only those narrow interest groups/developers, etc.the politician supports, or is "supported" by.
If a candidate cannot serve the community, morally, then they should not run. To do otherwise is just plain selfish and bad for overall community viability.
If you pick some business expert CEO who tries to treat Council like a business where they can issue orders, it is a waste of time.
They have just one vote just like the others.
The actual name of DNV is the Corporation of the District of North Vancouver. Yes, Corporation.
The "Board of Directors" is council.
Some taxpayers would like to see proven successful and experienced leaders with high level corporate or public administration backgrounds on that Board of Directors.
Special interest folks and unionists are great in the tents at Occupy Vancouver but broadly skilled pragmatic leaders should be sitting on council.
Even if these "broadly skilled and pragmatic leaders" are ruining our community? And our taxes are up and our services are down?
Define "ruining our community". That's a very subjective thing.
I hardly think that a "broadly skilled and pragmatic leader" would do a worse job of leading a $100 million per year Corporation (DNV and with lesser budgets CNV/WV) than activists, former trade unionists, soccer moms, real estate agents, barbers, life long politicians etc.
Let's get some expertise on council.
Do you honestly believe having A REALTOR on council is democratic?
Is it any less democratic than a bunch of union members?
The good cndidates in the City are Pam Bookham, Rod Clark, and Guy Heywood. Don Bell is worth considering. Bob Fearnley is on shakey ground and its time to get rid of Craig Keating the same way we got rid of his little protege Sam Schechter last time.
The job of councillor or mayor is to represent the people they represent (the city - even the ones that did not vote for them) to focus and direct the affairs of the corporation of the city by empowering the city executive (the city manager) to execute the councils programs. Just as in a normal corporation you have the board and you have a president and the CEO is not necessarily the president. The CEO and the board make up a list of directives to lead the company and the President of the company is the one to implement those wishes to the best of his ability.
Anybody is capable to be on a board so long as they make rational business related decisions that benefit the customer. And guess who the customer is? You and I - that's who...
"Anybody is capable to be on a board..."
Uh, what?
Considerable demonstrated expertise in making "business decisions" would be reassuring.
A good candidate is one not backed
by CUPE. Vote for independents and
not for Mussatto and his slate.
Post a Comment