Forgive me, but I’m having a hard time getting too worked up by the news that Delta won’t be holding a by-election to replace Ian Paton.
Paton, as you all know, became Delta South’s Liberal MLA back in May, so he now holds elected positions at both the municipal and provincial levels, which admittedly is not an ideal situation, but is not a light-your-hair-on-fire kind of circumstance either.
The overriding concern when it comes to a by-election is the cost, which Mayor Lois Jackson has pegged at a quarter of a million dollars. When you weigh that against having a new council member in place for a relatively short period of time, it hardly seems worth it. Yes, democracy costs money, but at some point common sense has to factor in.
The next general municipal election is 13 months from today, so if you subtract two months for a by-election campaign this fall and another couple of months for a general election campaign next fall, you’re down to about nine months. Given summer is the slowest time of year for council, and next year’s will be even slower as the end of the four-year mandate nears, you’re looking at maybe six or seven months of effective governing time.
What’s more, council positions are considered part-time so many who hold them also have full-time jobs, albeit not typically as the area’s MLA. And as far as the dynamics of Delta council, they won’t materially change whether Paton stays or he eventually resigns when doing so won’t trigger a by-election. It’s been a relatively harmonious group so adding or subtracting one piece simply isn’t going to make much of a difference on civic policies or council votes.
The drawbacks of him remaining as a councillor include questions over his ability to serve municipally with such a demanding primary job and the potential conflicts that provincial role creates. They are real concerns to be sure and there will be eyes on him, so it will be up to Paton to ensure they don’t become issues as he balances two masters going forward.
Former Delta North MLA Scott Hamilton did the same dance four years ago and municipal hall didn’t fall from its foundation, so I don’t see it as an affront to democracy to have Paton stay on as a councillor a while longer.
