By Plain Rhetoric

City councillor: how long is too long?

Aug 14, 2018 | 5:00 AM

BOB DYLAN DROPPED BY this morning to give me a hand writing today’s column. Okay, okay, maybe dropped by is a bit of an exaggeration but as I began writing, I did have his music playing in the background.

He was singing ‘The Times They Are A Changin” and the song seemed to fit well with some thoughts I had regarding change. And given that we are just a few weeks away from the start of campaign season, you too will soon be asked to give some thought to change.

Some voters will be demanding change as they call out for replacing all incumbents. Some candidates and voters will want to see a local government that is more business- friendly. Others will claim the current government is too business-friendly and insensitive to the social needs of Kamloops. And still others will feel the status quo is just fine.

History has shown that campaigning on a platform of change has not been a winning formula for those seeking political office. Mel Rothenburger came the closest when, in 1999, he was elected mayor. During that campaign, Rothenburger promised changes that would make government more transparent and inclusive. As it turned out, it was a promise of change that resonated with voters, as Rothenburger carried all 24 polls.

Only three incumbents managed to hang onto their seats that year, a record loss when the norm is to see only one incumbent fall from grace.

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With the exception of the 1999 sweep, change at Kamloops City Hall doesn’t come easily. That in turn begs the question: is being a city councillor a lifelong job or a four-year opportunity to make Kamloops a better place to live?

Retiring councillor Pat Wallace served on city council for 27 years. Arjun Singh has been at it for over decade. Ken Christian has been an elected official for 24 years (school board and city council). And most incumbents — Ray Dhaliwal and Kathy Sinclair excepted — have at least two terms or eight years under their belts and are looking for another four years.

Historically, only one incumbent will lose their seat in each election. As a result — and if no one steps down — it will take a minimum of seven elections or 28 years before all current councillors have rotated out of office.

Personally, I believe this is far too long, as the longer one is in office the more it becomes a right as opposed to a privilege.

The enthusiasm of those first few years begins to diminish. Interest in listening is slowly replaced by a “heard that a thousand times before” kind of detachment and disinterest.

Regulations and bylaws become the easy and fast way to govern. And even though this is small town politics, a sense and appreciation of power and privilege sets in, creating little personality traits that didn’t exist before.

All of this leads to a question that those running for office need to consider as I ask, should there be term limits for those we elect to office?

Is there such a thing as too long when it comes to holding office? What role does continuity in leadership play? What’s the relationship between experience and stagnation? If there was a limit, what should it be?

Currently the province, which is responsible for these kinds of things, sets the limit on each term to four years but has set no limits on the number of four-year terms one can serve. That approach, be it good or bad, led to councillors like Pat Wallace nearing 3 decades of service and Arjun Singh nearing half of that, if elected this October.

So, how long is too long when it comes to being a city councillor in Kamloops?

And remember beginning in September you too can ask questions of those running for office. All you need to do is message or email your questions to me with the expectation of direct answers from those running for office.