Talk about baptism by fire.
While his eight Kelowna council colleagues have weathered the storm of public pressure when it comes to controversial issues in the past given they were all re-elected, new guy, city Coun. Loyal Wooldridge, is about to learn the true meaning of the old adage in politics: 乌鸦传媒淲hen it comes to elections, be careful what you wish for.乌鸦传媒�
Unlike his council colleagues, who, in Shakespeare乌鸦传媒檚 words, have suffered the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune in bruising public hearings of the past, such the relocation of the Visitor乌鸦传媒檚 Centre onto the lakeshore, approval of Westcorp乌鸦传媒檚 yet-to-be-built 36-storey hotel downtown and rezoning land in Rutland for for a building to house graduates of a drug and alcohol treatment program, Wooldridge has it all to look forward too.
And he gets to start with a controversial one乌鸦传媒攁 proposed supportive housing project on Agassiz Road.
That controversial project has residents of the area upset about the close proximity the planned housing to the residences of hundreds of seniors.
Council乌鸦传媒檚 deliberation on the issue will be the epitome of what re-elected Mayor Colin Basran meant when he told his councillors after the Oct. 20 civic election to be prepared to make some tough decisions during the upcoming four-year term.
On Monday, after the nine members of council were sworn into office, Basran pointed to decisions about where to place supportive housing called for in the city乌鸦传媒檚 Journey Home strategy to address homelessness, as some of those difficult decisions.
But, he added, that乌鸦传媒檚 what council members are elected to do乌鸦传媒攎ake the tough choices for the betterment of the entire community, not just the directly affected few.
When council approved the rezoning for the Freedom乌鸦传媒檚 Door project in Rutland 乌鸦传媒� the housing for recovered addicts mentioned above 乌鸦传媒� Basran, who was raised in Rutland conceded his vote in favour may cost him friends. But, he felt as an elected member of city council it was his responsibility to vote for a project that was needed in the community and that would help people who live in the city.
It乌鸦传媒檚 a lesson Wooldridge says he乌鸦传媒檚 ready to learn. A day after his election, he was surprised to see how much correspondence had piled up in his city hall inbox.
Such is the life of a city councillor in a growing, busy city. Working for the people may be admirable, but it乌鸦传媒檚 often not easy.
They may love you at the ballot box, but approve a development they don乌鸦传媒檛 like, raise their taxes too much or fail keep roads in decent shape and its a short hop from 乌鸦传媒渃ongratulations on your election乌鸦传媒� to 乌鸦传媒渢hrow the bums out!乌鸦传媒�
Of course, it hasn乌鸦传媒檛 got to that point for any member of council yet. The nine members were just sworn in for their upcoming four-year term a few days ago.
But the public is fickle when it comes to politicians.
And the phrase 乌鸦传媒渨hat have you done for me lately乌鸦传媒� is one Wooldridge is going to start hearing. He just has to ask his seven colleagues.
Alistair Waters is the assistant editor of the Capital News.
