ROTHENBURGER: It’s OK for council members to disagree with one another

But there are parts of the proposed Code that are worrisome. The parts I’m talking about have to do with the freedom of council members to disagree with their colleagues.

For example, the proposed code states that “council members must not publish or report information or make statements attacking or reflecting negatively on staff or Council members.”

“Reflecting negatively” is so broad and vague you could drive a City transit bus through it. If you even question the wisdom of a decision, that could be interpreted as “reflecting negatively.”

Under a section called “Use of Social Media,” council members are admonished against reporting “directly on City related business.”

Well, why not, for Heaven’s sake? Getting information to the public is part of the job.

When posting on social media or talking to media, council members would be obligated to use the term “in my opinion” to make sure nobody is confused about whose opinion it is. Seriously.

It’s all a bit anal. Council members should always be respectful of each other, of course, but politics isn’t always a Nice Guy proposition. I’m not talking about name-calling; I simply mean it should be OK to disagree with each other strenuously and publicly. And, of course, respectfully.

The code of conduct needs to recognize that; otherwise, it’s not worth doing.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops and a retired newspaper editor. He is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.

by Mel Rothenburger

ROTHENBURGER: It’s OK for council members to disagree with one another

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