When voters head to the polls Wednesday to decide which of seven potential candidates will fill the void left by Gilles Prefontaine, the question they should ask themselves is, “Do I want more of the same from city council?” We hope the answer to that question is no.
Our current council appears to have put political grandstanding above effectiveness and that has made many observers weary. Residents have watched as Coun. Sheena Hughes and Mayor Nolan Crouse have spent countless hours holding up decisions by nitpicking documents under the guise of transparency and accountability, while delaying badly needed decisions. While some of this council’s supporters may take the process of making administrators answer for every line item in a 100-page budget document as safeguarding the public purse, it could also indicate a politician who is ill-prepared for the meeting, simply showing off or lacking trust in the city adminstration to do its job.
Similar is the apparent use of technicalities to quagmire decisions, presumably to push personal agendas. This week when Hughes effectively delayed a decision on the Amacon condominium development, her actions likely accomplished only one thing, to show developers that St. Albert is increasingly inept in dealing with important matters, thereby destroying investor confidence.
The continuing drama between Coun. Cam MacKay and the mayor has also grown tiresome. While Crouse has helped to fuel that widening division for tossing up justifications and excuses for his expense mistakes instead of simply apologizing, MacKay can’t let go of the bone.
Taking his cues from the St. Albert Think Tank and St. Albert Taxpayer’s Association, MacKay not only attacks the mayor, he has attacked private citizens, such as former councillor Neil Korotash, in what can only look like an attempt to justify his own actions and deflect attention.
During a past council meeting, Hughes gave notice that she would be tabling a motion to have a new hiring policy drafted, to address Prefontaine’s unexpected recruitment as a city administrator. Instead of making the motion to move this important matter forward, however, she deferred it to allow the newly elected councillor a chance to weigh in.
At the candidate’s forum this week, well-known candidate Bob Russell made a point that he would make bringing the very same motion to council a priority. It is interesting to note, he was at the council meeting where Hughes deferred her motion. The current council, though short a member, could have effectively moved the issue forward, one way or the other. That, combined with MacKay’s interestingly worded and paid advertisement in support of Russell, in Wednesday’s Gazette, illustrates that the established camps in this campaign may well continue after the votes are counted next week.
Voters now have a chance to elect councillors with a true vision for the future of St. Albert. The city needs councillors who demonstrate the ability to see the bigger picture. People who can put political and philosophical issues aside to reach compromises with their fellow councillors for the prosperity of the community. We don’t need the American-style of wedge politics that may be laughable, but unfortunately, not in the funny way as it potentially drives away business.
