I Didn't Vote For Him
Well, I didn't. The thing is, it's hard to find anyone who will admit to having voted for an unpopular politician, one who has been given the opportunity to demonstrate his/her administrative capabilities, his or her dedication to the well-being of the citizens to whom he/she owes the favour of being placed in such a position of leadership. And subsequently failed. Dismally. But so soon?
The City of Ottawa has a new mayor. The retiring mayor who has admittedly performed well, but not sufficiently soas to encourage sufficient votes to return him to office, has turned over his staff to the in-coming mayor. The incoming mayor has had no previous experience whatever in the political arena, but has been a very successful entrepreneur, a businessman of local repute.
Who just incidentally bought his campaign so successfully that he was brought in handily, over the aspirations of others more well-suited to the position thanks to their previous political and hands-on experience in operating a large city budget. Ottawa now has Mayor Larry O'Brien, a proud man, a man who has informed the taxpayers and voters of this city that they will receive their money's worth through his governance of city affairs.
First day in office, this businessman-cum-mayor who has promised on scout's honour not to raise taxes, grandly accepts an as-yet-unauthorized yearly raise representing an increase of a whopping 35% over last year's mayor's salary. The salaries for councillors also shoot sky-high, and Mr. O'Brien encourages all councillors to accept this wind-fall. Oh, what a surprise! the electorate is not pleased.
And Mr. O'Brien steps back, claims to have made a "rookie mistake". This from a sharp-eyed businessman, a multi-millionaire who really doesn't need a high salary, a man who has pledged to keep costs to a minimum, to evade the need for additional taxes. We all know how much a politician-in-waiting's pledges are worth, but this kind of active fiscal self-enhancement goes beyond belief.
And the best is yet to come. To demonstrate just how sincere Mr. O'Brien is about respecting the municipal tax dollars he is managing, he has brought aboard as his personal assistant the former head of the Canadian Taxpayers' Federation, Walter Robinson. Has Mr. Robinson already, at this early stage, forgotten what a watchdog of the public purse he so ably represented?
Better yet, is this the kind of lack of attention to um, detail, we have to look forward to in the coming years under Mayor O'Brien?
The City of Ottawa has a new mayor. The retiring mayor who has admittedly performed well, but not sufficiently soas to encourage sufficient votes to return him to office, has turned over his staff to the in-coming mayor. The incoming mayor has had no previous experience whatever in the political arena, but has been a very successful entrepreneur, a businessman of local repute.
Who just incidentally bought his campaign so successfully that he was brought in handily, over the aspirations of others more well-suited to the position thanks to their previous political and hands-on experience in operating a large city budget. Ottawa now has Mayor Larry O'Brien, a proud man, a man who has informed the taxpayers and voters of this city that they will receive their money's worth through his governance of city affairs.
First day in office, this businessman-cum-mayor who has promised on scout's honour not to raise taxes, grandly accepts an as-yet-unauthorized yearly raise representing an increase of a whopping 35% over last year's mayor's salary. The salaries for councillors also shoot sky-high, and Mr. O'Brien encourages all councillors to accept this wind-fall. Oh, what a surprise! the electorate is not pleased.
And Mr. O'Brien steps back, claims to have made a "rookie mistake". This from a sharp-eyed businessman, a multi-millionaire who really doesn't need a high salary, a man who has pledged to keep costs to a minimum, to evade the need for additional taxes. We all know how much a politician-in-waiting's pledges are worth, but this kind of active fiscal self-enhancement goes beyond belief.
And the best is yet to come. To demonstrate just how sincere Mr. O'Brien is about respecting the municipal tax dollars he is managing, he has brought aboard as his personal assistant the former head of the Canadian Taxpayers' Federation, Walter Robinson. Has Mr. Robinson already, at this early stage, forgotten what a watchdog of the public purse he so ably represented?
Better yet, is this the kind of lack of attention to um, detail, we have to look forward to in the coming years under Mayor O'Brien?
posted by Pieface | 5:41 PM
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