To the Editor:
Municipal politics is different than provincial and federal politics. In provincial or federal politics, voters can either vote for the candidate and/or the political party. In municipal politics, just the person and it seems more often than not, it’s nothing more than a popularity contest. Persons serving for years on prestigious local clubs, committees and boards, having lived in Thompson for a very long time, member of a popular family or having a past prominent family member and riding their reputation to election, using one’s influence to win votes, etc. Further, past mayors and council members running again seem to get elected again presumably because of their experience. As I see it, if you want more, vote for them again. I ask you, does being a longer-time well-known resident automatically entitle you to be better for municipal council, thus we should only to vote for these kinds of persons?
Newer persons to Thompson have and do contribute importantly to Thompson: educators, health care professionals, businesspersons, those working a cash register at Wal-Mart, RCMP members, taxi drivers, etc. Some of these persons are your friends. Most likely, there are more newer persons than there are born-and-raised 25-year-plus residents who want to see the best for Thompson. However, there are long-time residents that don’t vote, nor would they ever consider serving on council. Regardless, please (re)read my article Jan. 10 in the Thompson Citizen, and at least get out to vote (or run) in the next election this fall. Newcomers, union members and aboriginal people must organize themselves and get out to vote (or run) – but wisely.
Thompson’s economic reality, in part, is the outcome of decisions made by past mayors and councils. And so if we agree that given Thompson’s present state of affairs that significant municipal government changes are needed, it only makes sense to elect not just different persons, but the kind of persons that bring something different. It’s up to them to explain what that difference is, and voters to decide its worth. Case in point, during a recent local Chamber of Commerce meeting televised on Shaw, I saw co-project manager Harold Smith at the start of a Thompson 2020 presentation make reference to guests in attendance if they know Oswald Sawh. Mr. Sawh is not part of this 2020 effort. Now if rumours prove true and Mr. Sawh does run for mayor, here we have this popularity contest I am describing, as evidenced by long-time resident, former councillor and everyone’s friend Harold Smith asking if those in attendance at that presentation know Mr. Sawh. It’s my opinion this is influencing popularity for attracting votes. This is politics, yes, but my concern is explained below.
All voters must do their homework on who to vote for, once it’s official who is running. Such homework for example could show the fact that former councilor Oswald Sawh was chair of public works and infrastructure committee and was instrumental in the creation of the water utility and the installation of water meters. He praised the water meter project for its impact on the future (Thompson Citizen, Sept. 8, 2010). Ironically, then, as the Chamber of Commerce president, he publicly criticized [a proposed local improvement bylaw to fund the new sewage treatment plant based on] the size of water meters, such that charging water was based on water meter size, not on how much water was consumed (Thompson Citizen, March 15, 2016). Reviewing municipal council meeting minutes too shows he consistently voted the same way as votes from former mayor Tim Johnston and other like-minded councillors grouped in that council. Taxes and water bills only increased to this day. And funding Men Are Part of the Solution (M.A.P.S) and the humane society that Mr. Sawh is connected to have added to municipal expenses at a time when city employees were to not be paid for 10 days. I cannot afford higher taxes or rising water bills anymore. If the intent was to popularize Mr. Sawh at that opportunity, I think the vision of Thompson 2020 should only focus on improving Thompson’s economic future (pun intended).
So, you want to be the next mayor or a councillor? Are you someone who knows or understands things differently after having been elsewhere? Someone educated and/or having considerable lived experience? Someone willing to learn and abide by the Manitoba Municipal Conflict of Interest Act? Someone that can critically and independently think and vote on resolutions? Someone that won’t abuse their power for personal satisfaction/gain? Someone that can deal with Vale’s intimidation? Or are you someone to continue shielding transparency and public participation in decision-making, or continue to use your power for personal or for friends’ gain? Will it be more of the same in creating and participating in a core voting group on council for control, and be influenced by the same persons outside of council chambers? Will you lead, or just follow? Am I asking too much?
Mark Matiasek
Thompson
