Learning Curve in Store for New Councillors says Professor
Prince George, B.C. – City councillors elected in Prince George for the very first time may have a steep learning curve ahead of them.
In particular those elected on platforms of change says UNBC political science professor Dr. Gary Wilson.
“I think what’s often the biggest barrier is you have these new people come in, get elected on so called platforms of change and then all of a sudden they hit a brick wall of this is how things are done at city hall and you have to get used to that.”
He says the steepness of the learning curve depends on the person but notes patience, at least in the beginning, will be key.
“I wouldn’t want them to get discouraged. It may take some time before they can implement the types of changes which were part of their platforms.”
But Wilson notes new councillors should also be helped along by previous life experiences.
“I think a lot of these people who run for office tend to have experience working in the community whether it’s with community organizations or community events so they have some sense of how local politics works.”
Either way he says new blood at the council table is a positive development.
“It’s always great to see new faces because they bring new and fresh ideas to the table. It’s also good to see incumbents get re-elected. They will provide some continuity.”
Comments
What really, another little gem from a professor. i wonder if there will be a tax payer study to prove that any new job has a learning curve..lol
Excellent advice. That “brick wall” does exist, and bureaucrats don’t like change.
“… then all of a sudden they hit a brick wall of this is how things are done at city hall and you have to get used to that.”
Get used to it? How about changing it? Time to make city hall work for the people of the city.
It will be s steep learning curve to those councillors – new as well as old when you have strings attached to your campaign.
I think the biggest problem facing new Councilors concerns: Having enough information on hand in order to make a proper decision. Do staff reports provide proper information in the form of pros and cons to the proposal before them?
If a Councilor feels he/she does not have enough information, do they have the fortitude to insist consideration of the proposal must be held over to another Council Meeting so that those voting on the proposal do so with absolute knowledge of the issue. This problem was brought forward on at least two occasions in the past term – yet nothing came of it. AND, who was sitting in the big chair??? Yeah, guess!
We need to keep in mind that our City Council members are people just like us and they need time to fully understand what is before them as do most of us in our daily life challenges.
If these principles can be followed, I believe City Hall, both politicos and staff, will work for us to make our lives better. Eh, Axman?
The first poster here, are you never so cynical and bitter?
This is funny! Every job has a learning curve, don’t need no professor to tell us LMAO.
Give More.. Do you disagree with what I said ? Every thing any professor from UNBC has said about any topic lately is common knowledge..
Breaking News!!!! Bahahahaha, jeez…
Prof notes:”It may take some time before they can implement the types of changes which were part of their platforms.”
Didn’t seem to be any concrete platforms? With most jobs or employment, you are hired because of experience or credentials. If you run for council, you should understand there will be lots of homework to understand the workings of City Hall, issues outstanding and issues to come. There are enough returning with experience to guide the new.
I agree with P Val. The political Professor did not say anything that was not common knowledge.
We have been electing Aldermen and Councilors for 100 years, and seemed to do it without any guidance from the Professors on the hill. How did we ever manage??
This last election did not have any specific issues on any great import that were debated by those elected, so they have lots of time to get their feet wet, and work on their pet projects, such as Transportation, Transparency, and Chickens in the back yard.
The all learn how to be more
TRANSPARENT….
meaning that for those of us who are watching them , they can hide what they are doing and we are not supposed to notice or see….
at the same time patting themselves on teh back and spouting the mantra,
we are here for the betterment of the city…
YA RIGHT
rock on….
When I first saw the title of this story, my initial thought was “Really? Really? Wow, another intelligent statement from a Professor! Wonder what we paid for this one?”
P Val, you and I seem to be agreeing on more than a few things lately. Kinda scary, eh? Perhaps we should commission a Professor to do a study on why that is!! Wonder who we can send the bill to, haha?
While we’re getting that study done, I couldn’t help but notice a bit of the white stuff on the ground this morning. Obviously we need another study to determine why this happens every year around this time!
Maybe the real story the professor should be talking about is that voters may need adjust their expectations regarding change when the new council hits the ‘brick wall’. As logical and common sense like as that may be, that reality is often ignored by many posters on this site deriding ‘common sense’ in their posts.
Hart guy.. Lol.. Yes we seem to be.. Maybe is old age wisdom.. :)
Being a professor of life I have learnt a few things.. If it’s raining I get wet, if it’s snowing I get wet, if it’s really hot out I get wet. So expect to be wet part of your life… So who did you say I send the bill to.. It will be costly, over 50 years researching this fact…
Lol
Hey P Val … so a scientist might say that after 50 years of research, you still haven’t figured out how to stay dry … keep on researching for a solution before you send a bill … ;=)
If things are that slow at city hall; perhaps the 1st item on the agenda is getting rid of the current city manager and putting new people in city hall that are also for change.
Palopu -This last election did not have any specific issues on any great import that were debated by those elected, so they have lots of time to get their feet wet, and work on their pet projects, such as Transportation, Transparency, and Chickens in the back yard.
Your quote seems funny – did you not support candidates with these ideas?Hopefully trips to China or wherever wouldn’t be needed for the above pet projects.
Forget the chickens – the price of bacon has gone up – how about a pig in a pen!!
“Being a professor of life I have learnt a few things.. If it’s raining I get wet, if it’s snowing I get wet, if it’s really hot out I get wet.”
Maybe you ought to learn about raincoats, umbrellas, shelters, and so forth.
oldman 1. I supported candidates that would do the City of Prince George the least harm over a period of four years. Candidates that would work on various projects, and problems, without necessarily having a monetary vested interest. Candidates who would do a days work and go home, and not be scheming into the wee hours of the morning on how to screw taxpayers.
We need a rest from the constant battering of the Citizens of Prince George by local Government. I think we have elected a Council that will be more attentive to the needs of ALL the people of the City.
What more could we ask for?????
We all know that the composition of the city hall has changed. That is not scratching beneath the surface.
What direction the city will take and how this will affect the relationship between the municipal government, provincial government and federal government are the topics that worth looking into. That requires a deeper understanding about the key players and puppet masters behind the scene in PG. You need the knowledge of a PG old-timer or access to a professional political player for that.
Comments for this article are closed.