Congratulations to all of the candidates – you earned it. Even if you didn’t win you were still winners for trying! So reflections on the results of Cobourg’s Municipal election. First of all what took so long to get the results. An hour to read the computers? There must be a better explanation than none. 

We at the BR managed to get a DM and 3 out of 5 Councillors, better than no picks. The adults are back on Council – we hope. Unfortunately the newly elected Mayor pointed the way to his next four years by quoting Simon Sinek (wiki ref here) “Leadership is not about being in charge, leadership is about taking care of those in your charge” – OK Daddy Cleveland try that on five Councillors old enough to be your parents! Not to mention two of whom you are taking to the Ombudsman for a session in the woodshed. The quote came from his FB blurb released to his many sycophants – we say that because he has blocked the rest of from seeing his posts – not a great omen for the future.

The question for the new Mayor is simple how do you reconcile with Cobourg. A majority of voters did not vote for you, how do you deal with them? Will you still block them from your communications on social media thus demonstrating an indifference to them? Will you still rule by fiat – bringing solo motions to Council and expecting an acolyte to second them? Will you still patronise fellow Councillors, especially the female ones, in your berations from the Chair Because if you do you will be hunkering down alone in your bunker of the Mayor’s office surrounded by staff too cowed by the Strong Mayors Powers of dismissal to do anything other than obey; living in your dream world of megalomania.

The BR suggests an attitude change, which may be very difficult because of your self-identified condition of “neurodiversity” (wiki ref here). But if you will listen – the first lesson, to the accumulated experience on Council from the two re-elected Cllrs. and the other three who have decades of Management Experiences, then you will be off to a great start. Drop the persona of “being the smartest guy in the room” and the “mansplaining” and you will go far.

To the newly elected Council the BR says; be independent and take no BS. One can be part of a team but only if you have faith in the leader, give him a chance to show how he can lead and inspire, that does not mean being a mute. Also the BR expects more than one voice to be the only voice questioning issues at Council. As well we know this is a long shot but all of Council must realise by now from the experiences of the last Council that unless you want to sit in ten hour Council meetings the governance system will have to be changed.

Last words – thank you to all concerned