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Councillors act like kids - Jim Young

Recently Councillor Ron Bradley stated, "When you criticize employees, when you criticize council…you can't expect any favours afterwards.

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