J. André Faust (Feb 05, 2021)
We are fast approaching the 2021 Fredericton municipal elections, and as a result of the coronavirus and an additional year added to their three-year term.
So if multiple candidates are vying for the Mayor's position, how do you choose the right personality to represent the city as its figurehead?
To answer that question, you have to know what the role of the Mayor is.
The Mayor's role is to chair the councillors' main council meetings and ensure that proper parliamentary procedures are followed; in the event of a tie, the Mayor can vote; otherwise, the Mayor has no vote on any motions brought by the council to the chamber.
Unless the Mayor delegates his role of liaison officer for the city, he or she is the official spokesperson and representative on behalf of the city. Lastly, the Mayor's role is to sign any legal documents or legal instruments related to the city's affairs. Beyond that, the Mayor has little power. The power lies in the hands of the duly elected ward representatives; it is the council as a whole that either approves or rejects any motions during regular council meetings.
If the motion is a popular motion with the citizens of Fredericton, then the Mayor gets the credit; however, the inverse occurs. If it is an unpopular motion, then the Mayor is heavily criticized.
What characteristics should a person have to attain the level of the ideal Mayor?
This individual should have above average communications skills with his/her counsellors, the public and the media. (being fluently bilingual in both official languages would be a bonus). Strong negotiation skills are a must for any Mayor to succeed in their role.
Candidates for Mayor can not make misleading promises such as "should I become Mayor, I will do this or accomplish that." It is the council, not the Mayor, who decides the end game. The best that a Mayorallity Candidate can promise is to qualify the promise with "working with my council members. I would like to see this happen or that happen." Finally, the last thing that Mayor doesn't want to become is a toxic agent who ends alienating themselves from their councillors, which is not suitable for the councillors nor the citizens of Fredericton.
They are all puppets of the "Agenda" and paid to obey technocrats, to think otherwise is ridiculous.
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