ROTHENBURGER: Council, staff, detractors must remember who elected the mayor

You — council and staff — did not elect the mayor. Reid Hamer-Jackson owes his job to the voters, who want him to speak and act on their behalf and to do what he said he’d do. Certainly, there are rules to follow but just because you might not like his style doesn’t mean he’s wrong and you’re right.

Never in the City’s history has a mayor been elected based more clearly on the community’s desire for change.

Council and staff have an obligation to listen to what the voters have said and to work with the new mayor on what can be done within the boundaries of the job. So how to move forward?

Council and staff, suck it up and prepare to meet the mayor halfway. Newbies, you don’t get a mulligan. Find a really good mediator, lock yourselves in a room with the mayor and don’t come out until you have a plan.
No more council delegations to the mayor’s office. No more sniping and coy remarks. No fighting it out in the media.

As for Internet haters, get over yourselves. And social agencies, give the mayor a clear signal that you’re ready to work with him.

Bring this “unfortunate distraction” to an end.

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: Council, staff, detractors must remember who elected the mayor

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