We received three replies: one from Ward 2 Councillor Cameron Kroetsch another from Ward 7 Councillor Esther Pauls and most recently, from Ward 13 Councillor Alex Wilson. We are particularly pleased to welcome Clr. Wilson, as this is his first appearance on The Hamiltonian.
The following are Councillor Wilson's views on term limits:
I support term limits in general and when I ran in 2022, I included in my platform a commitment not to seek a third consecutive term meaning if re-elected in 2026 I would not run again in the 2030 municipal elections. I think term limits whether imposed by voters, self-imposed via commitments from candidates, or formally implemented are one tool to encourage a balance between institutional memory and new voices and new ideas around the table. I don’t believe that term limits are a silver bullet at fixing democracy or local engagement, but I do believe that a regular cycle of renewal can promote more collaborative decision making and encourage more transition-oriented policy making. I think having term limits helps focus the work away from focusing on personal achievements or “legacy” and towards a stewardship role.
I am certainly open to a more formal proposal with hard rules at either 2 or 3 terms (8 to 12 years) but I believe that the benefits of term limits are best realized in combination with other policies that make elections easier to run in as a candidate and encourage full participation of voters as well. With only about a third of eligible voters participating in municipal elections city-wide I think it is important any attempts to increase participation focus on the barriers both candidates and voters experience during the election. Reducing the role of private donations and increasing public funding for candidates and/or introducing a tax credit (as occurs with provincial and federal donations) would help to reduce barriers for candidates to run and minimize the potential benefit of an incumbent having established donor list. Having election day as a public holiday would also go a long way to increasing engagement. While I believe in term limits and have committed to a 2 consecutive term limit myself, I don’t think formalizing term limits would be my first request of the province. Ranked ballots in addition to the above suggestions would to me be first priorities over formalizing term limits.
As we all are experiencing the world is moving a lot faster in recent years and there are a variety of new and ongoing challenges facing communities and local governments across the country. Pandemic recovery, infrastructure backlogs, growing populations, the climate crisis, a systemic lack of safe and affordable housing, and increasing cyber security threats are just some of the challenges facing municipalities. Responding to these pressures effectively means breaking away from what we have been doing that hasn’t been working and responding in ways that center those left behind in past responses. Personally, I think the challenge for all municipalities in these coming years will be how to (continue to) manage these major changes I don’t think that’s possible without new voices and new approaches. Term limits are one strategy that helps ensure there is renewal while also recognizing there is a value in institutional memory and the experiences gained from serving as a representative.
Thank-you Councillor Wilson for engaging with Hamiltonians in The Hamiltonian. You are always welcome here.
I believe that the voter should determine how long a councillor stays on the council! If he or she is doing there job representing their constituents, they have the power to keep you or reject you!
ReplyDeleteNo offence, but that is a naive comment.
DeleteSorry for the long post, but here’s what local politicians do to stay in power:
ReplyDelete* They get their names in community papers like *The Spectator* and *The Hamiltonian* for free. Regular candidates have to fight to get noticed. Sometimes these papers do a good job giving everyone a fair chance, but it’s not always like that.
* They make their wards look nicer during election years with new projects. Regular candidates can’t do that.
* They get help from city workers who will do things for them.
* They show up at events like festivals just to get their face in front of people.
* One councillor, thank God she lost her seat, used to go to funeral visitations and write “Councillor\_\_\_\_” on the guestbook. That’s a cheap trick.
* Some use sneaky tactics. I once saw a group vandalizing their opponent’s signs in broad daylight.
* Incumbents sometimes put their signs on public property because they know nobody will stop them.
* They keep lists of people to send out calls and flyers to.
* I know one politician who would stick their sign on people’s private property without asking and leave a note saying “Thanks for your support.”
* A few elections ago, my city councillor went to the Election Compliance Committee, and the chair almost did anything to please her.
* If you speak out against an incumbent, don’t expect them to help you out.
* Some of them are good at pretending to be friendly.
* My old councillor used to write articles like “Don’t forget to clear your snow and look both ways” just to get her face in the paper. It’s sad, and the papers shouldn’t let that happen.
* These are just some tricks people don’t see. We need term limits because it’s not a fair game.
oh. Mine used to send me a birthday card but only in an election. year. Keep this list going.
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