Warning to candidates — prepare for crap and abuse

Nobody who leaves politics looks back at the experience and says, “I sure miss being verbally abused day after day.”

The issue was discussed at a Union of B.C. Municipalities convention last fall — that’s the one where civic politicians get together to talk, hobnob, debate and pass resolutions on issues of importance to their communities.

Lawyer Kathleen Higgins told a packed session on the harassment issue that incivility towards local governments is “hands down” on the rise.

Ironically, it’s partly because local government — long regarded as the most accessible because it’s the “closest to home” — is more open than ever due to social media and things like live streaming of meetings and public hearings.

But the anonymity afforded those who enjoy trashing public representatives contributes to the disrespect of the political process, Higgins said, and that, in turn, erodes the quality of public discourse on issues.

Some people just like to be angry and to rant. Now, they have more freedom and ability to do it than ever before. Online commenting isn’t the only way in which civic politicians are bullied but it’s more common than, say, being yelled at when walking down the street, or receiving threatening phone calls, letters or emails or being confronted while having dinner in a restaurant — all of which occur.

So what can candidates expect this fall? First of all, they will be called “idiots” and “morons” on a frequent basis. If elected they will also, on occasion, be accused of dishonesty. They’ll be accused without any foundation whatsoever of “lining the pockets of their friends.”

Some mayors and councillors have grown so tired of it that they have sued for defamation. Pitt Meadows Mayor John Becker, who is running for re-election this year, sued when he was accused of taking bribes. His accusers might have done well to consider that Becker is a lawyer.

“If people think I’m an asshole, that’s probably fair comment. If they think I should be thrown out of office in the next election, that’s fine,” Becker was quoted in a Vancouver Sun article as saying. “But you cross a line that I would think everybody would recognize if you say, ‘He’s taking bribes from a developer and laundering it through his firm.’ That crosses a line.”

In Penticton, the municipality threatened to sue a resident for defamation. Vernon council took a former council candidate to court last year for allegedly harassing and verbally abusing city staff and councillors.

Everybody knows politicians need thick skins but we’re wrong if we think insults and false accusations don’t hurt. After Maple Ridge Mayor Nicole Read was harassed online and received physical threats, she took a break from the job last year, curtailing public appearances for a month. A security guard then attended council meetings.

The one-term mayor is not seeking re-election this year.

The fact that some of the online vitriol aimed against Read was sexist — including some calling her a ‘ho’ — raises the question of how we’re going to encourage more women to get into politics when they’re subjected to such things.

And what about ethnic diversity on councils? Kamloops councils have been fortunate to have a healthy ethnic mix but as harassment of civic leaders continues to rise, will racially charged trolling also become a factor?

We need to encourage participation in the political process in order to promote healthy debate and thoughtful decision making. The haters should look inward and ask what they themselves have done toward that end, and what they’re accomplishing by trying to drive well-intended people out of politics.

by Armchair Mayor

Warning to candidates — prepare for crap and abuse

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