A fresh start for our municipal leaders
Congratulations to all those newly elected or re-elected to municipal office. You have been chosen by your neighbours to serve, to listen, and to lead. Now comes the real hard work — the kind that tests your character as much as your competence and vision.
As you begin your term, bring with you integrity, respect, humility, and curiosity about the lives of those you represent. Bring patience for the slow pace of government. Bring persistence and imagination to solve problems that defy easy solutions; learn from how other towns are tackling tough issues, like affordable housing (Dunham and Lac Megantic), and zoning and aesthetics (New England). And bring compassion for residents whose concerns may seem small to you, but that reflect a concern at the heart of community life — a pothole, garbage collection schedules, dump trucks barrelling through town, the size of motors on boats on the lake, a country road where cars speed and the SQ does nothing. These things matter because they shape how people feel about where they live.
What must you leave behind?
Partisan loyalties, personal grudges, and the temptation to serve only those who supported you. Do not bring intolerance or dismissiveness. Leave behind cynicism and, importantly, leave behind the belief that “a problem cannot be solved.”
Remember: local leadership is important. It is about enhancing quality of life, keeping streets and roads safe, and keeping budgets balanced. It is about trust — earned one decision, one interaction, at a time.
Municipal government works best when it serves everyone, regardless of income, language, race, or background, regardless of whether residents are weekenders or full-time, whether they are city people or grew up locally. The best municipal government is one that manages efficiently and unites residents around a shared vision.
Serve with honesty, listen with empathy, and govern with energy and the conviction that every voice in your municipality deserves to be heard and respected.
Congratulations!
Election results
Look for final results of the November 2 municipal elections on our website at https://tempolacbrome.ca/ and our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TempoLacBrome/.
Look for more extensive coverage of municipal elections in our December/January issue.