Recently Councillor Ron Bradley stated, "When
you criticize employees, when you criticize council…you can't
expect any favours afterwards."
This advice, directed to Councillor Lynne
Reynolds, might have been taken from the sycophant's manual
entitled Kissing-up for Dummies, which apparently is required
reading for politicians at Tom Davies Square. Other chapters of
this how-to guide include Going Along To Get Along; Saying
Yes,
Your Worship In Both Official Languages; and
the particularly relevant, Paybacks Are a Bitch.
Bradley's "so there" explanation of why
Reynolds was not elected chair of the planning committee seems
more suited to the childish atmosphere of a playground than to
council chambers. Apparently, it never occurred to Reynolds
that by criticizing members of the "club," she wouldn't be
welcome in
the "clubhouse."
The recent example of petty gamesmanship
involving three veteran politicians in blocking Reynolds from
the chairmanship does seem rather juvenile.
Since Reynolds was vice-chair, she might have
expected to be favoured as chair. But her fellow councillors,
who "See No Evil, Hear No Evil, and
Speak No Evil" when it comes to the political
and bureaucratic hierarchy at city hall, have sent her a
message.
Bradley, who preaches the philosophy of going
along, seems to be getting along, as he was recently "favoured"
with the position of deputy mayor. In this club, membership
does have its privileges. As for Reynolds, unless she follows
the manual, she'll remain an outsider, clearly out of favour
with the rest of the "club."
Jim Young
, Sudbury