It is an election year for our mayors and reeves in Alberta.
What should we be looking for when we vote? What should we not be looking for?
One thing we do not need is one-issue leaders; these key leadership roles at the top require balanced views and a broad view of everything from collaboration to leadership and from finance to economic prosperity.
We should be looking for an educated leader; one who can interpret sophisticated documents such as financial and legal documents. Speaking of reading financial statements, mayors and reeves set a tone when it comes to cost and revenue balancing. As such, these leaders need to have strong financial literacy and anything short of that should be a concern.
Not everyone is able to do a good job chairing meetings such as town halls, open houses, controversial public hearings, committee meetings, closed sessions or regular council meetings, so we need to know if our mayor and reeve candidates have lead groups in the past.
We need to be voting for someone in this top office who we believe can serve for eight (8) years. Given one term is four years, most mayors and reeves serve for two terms in Canada.
Mayors and reeves serve as the face of the community that they represent. They are equally the face to the province, to the media, to the region and more. Highly ethical, principled and demonstrating personal stability are important traits and requirements. Equally, these leaders are also role models for many children and young people who look them for queues about certain traits and skills. Alcohol and drug use are non-starters during the time these individuals are in office because young people are watching. Additionally, the mayors and reeves are on duty 24/7, and emergencies may occur at any time of the day or night. Being impaired is unacceptable at any time.
Mayors and reeves relinquish self-interest and become “others-oriented.” This is a skill that requires a high degree of emotional intelligence and decency.
Given how divisive the world is at all orders of government; provincially, federally and internationally, we need to be looking for leaders who advocate for collaborative approaches; collaboration with municipal neighbours, collaboration with the province and collaboration with municipal staff.
Mayors and reeves need to adhere to the laws, bylaws and policies that have been enacted prior to them taking their office. They should follow the policies in place or change those policies but never ignore the policies. This requires dedication to good governance.
Elected officials serve children, the elderly, the renters, the visitors, the homeless, the residents and the businesses. While it is the qualified residents who vote, it is the job of the elected officials to serve everyone, not their favourite faction.
We need mayors and reeves who are able to speak and give speeches (planned and spontaneous ones) to add to the face of the community that they represent.
Albertans need to get out and vote and eclipse the historically low voter turnout which varies between 20 per cent and 40 per cent at municipal elections in Alberta. Let’s vote for leaders, credible leaders across Alberta; leaders with the skills and traits described above.
And that folks, is how it should really work.
